blog

considering depressants for excessive cheerfulness...

Friday, 03 April 2009 10:22

The other day I was laughing and laughing because a friend of mine forwarded me this video on YouTube.  Don’t you just love the Onion?  I thought this was so hilarious because the video’s description of “excessive perkiness” describes so many of us in Seattle.  It characterized one woman as irritatingly cheerful and showed clips of her baking cakes for friends, inviting her husband to bicycle in the park, and telling people how cute their outfits were.  However, when medicated with the depressant "Despondex" she was no longer "excessively perky."

I thought, could I be considered excessively cheerful too?  Absolutely!  And honestly, it especially describes the residents, staff, and volunteers at Jubilee.  Why are we so chipper?  I’ll tell you why.  Because one person is one world, and we are changing the world one person at a time.  I really believe that, and we are all here doing something about the fact that we care. 

I love what we're doing.  I see the residents on the first day when they come in so I can give them the keys to their new room.  They look nervous, uncertain, smiley, shy, new, sometimes with only the clothes on their back.  I also see them on their last day, usually about one year later, moving out.  They’re relaxed, upbeat, breezy, making arrangements with other residents to keep in touch, asking me if they can have that vase at the front desk to decorate their new apartment, they’re in school or volunteering or working by then, comfortably dressed.  What a neat difference.

Why do I work here?  Why do I also donate to Jubilee both privately and through trying out the cool new Facebook Causes avenue (which I would love it if you joined, let’s get strong)?  Why am I willing to ask other folks to give their hearts, time, and spare dollars to help us out?  Because it’s so worth it.  You will feel so good. 

But you should know, the side effects could be serious.  You may need to consider Despondex.  Very soon.  Because all this cheerfulness can’t be good for anybody.

Becca Petrin
Office Manager