The Paradox of Irreverence

I have been told I have a wonderfully irreverent sense of humor. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, irreverent means "lacking proper respect or seriousness." I wonder about that. If I think something is ridiculous that others think it is VERY SERIOUS does it show a lack of proper respect to make a joke about it? Where is the line? What is "proper" respect anyway? I've always had a hard time putting on a show of respect for things that I really don't respect.

I also struggle with the affect my irreverence might have on my image, especially with those for whom I am supposed to be "setting a good example." Let's face it, irreverence and it's sisters snarkiness, sarcasm and passive-aggression do run the risk of being perceived as negativity. And if you are "setting a good example" it is expected, I suppose, that you be positive. But, again, does being positive mean you can't disagree or make a joke about something? I think not.

To me, irreverence is productive...maybe even positive...in that it allows an outlet for frustration. If I can cork off with a humorously spun irreverent remark now and then instead of swallowing all of my "disrespect" for something, I don't build up a well of resentment. (At least not as deep a well.) To me, it provides an outlet for a least a tiny squeak of the truth amid what usually amounts to the great manure pile of false reverence and pretending we do as a culture. If you can't see the inane and have a laugh at it's expense, I'm clocking out.

But I also know irreverence can be misinterpreted and must be used carefully. So I still wonder sometimes if I run the risk of being labeled as a bad influence or someone who doesn't take things seriously enough. (I think too many things are taken too seriously, to be honest.) Then again, irreverent humor is part of who I am authentically and being a good leader means being authentically who I am without apologies, so I suppose if I find myself in a place where I feel I am not "allowed" my irreverence, then I know it's not the place for me.

Side note: I started this post this morning. Little did I know that shortly before I started to write this, a snarky and irreverent email I had sent to a former employee had, in fact, been sent to her boss who just so happened to be the subject of said snarky and irreverent email and who is still monitoring the former employee's old email account. This resulted in a very awkward encounter with the injured party and much gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands on my part.

The karmic implications and irony are not lost on me here. In fact, now that I am over the initial gnashing and wringing part, I am actually laughing inside at myself and how brilliant the universe is about taking the softballs we lob with our minds and knocking them out of the cosmic park in a major way. Gotta love it.