She was one of my favorite radio personalities, and I miss hearing her voice and her common sense advice.
Joy Browne was a psychologist whose long running radio program featured calls from people with problems to discuss with her. Dr.Browne’s thoughts about managing them were always to the point.
If I had known that her life would be so short, I would have paid more attention and made more of an effort to remember advice that she gave her callers.
I do remember a fairly prevalent question regarding life choices. Someone would call and say, “I’ve always wanted to be a (name any profession), but now I’m ( name an age). It’s too late to train for that position . It would take at least four years of school to qualify.”
Her answer was always,
“And how old will you be in four years if you do NOT go back to school?”
Always encouraging, always looking for a different way to look at a problem.
A common question had to do with running away from problems.
“My life is miserable. I hate my job and don’t have any good friends. I think I’d be happier if I moved to a new community in a new state. To this, Dr. Browne always answered,
“Don’t forget: no matter where you go, you take yourself with you!” She clearly didn’t think that running from problems worked very well.
Interpersonal relationships were always hazardous.
She frequently took calls from people who were angry with someone and wanted to insult and fume at them; a fellow worker, an old friend, or a relative. “If you tell him what you really think of him, you will gain the great momentary satisfaction of telling him off. And that will feel good. Is that momentary satisfaction worth destroying your relationship with that person?”
Instant gratification vs. long term strategy. The old “Count to ten before saying anything” strategy.
One of the interesting ideas Dr. Browne told her radio audience was the “Obituary Party.” She felt that nobody will never know the things that are said about you after your death. Wouldn’t it be nice to know those things while you are alive? At an obituary party, everyone would have the opportunity to give an obituary speech about you so you know the things that people appreciated and admired.
I hope Dr. Browne gave herself an Obituary party, because she would surely be pleased to hear from some of the many who were grateful for the help she gave them. She turned many lives around and made them tolerable.
I hope she knew how much her audience valued and cared for her.
MorristownMemos 
Comments on: "DR. JOY BROWNE" (12)
Great tribute to a lady I wish I had heard and known. The idea of an Obituary Party has been discussed with a couple of my friends. We hope we have a chance to say goodbye to our friends before we leave this world and tell them how much they mean to us while we are still alive.
We should all take the opportunity to tell friends how much they enriched our lives and how much they mean to us.
This is a lovely tribute, worthy of a read on her show in memoriam.
Thanks, Al. I don’t think there is such a place to read a tribute to her, but that is a lovely thought.
Thanks, Lynn. It’s good to connect with past people who influenced us.
Lovely obit. party contribution. I am certain that your kind thoughts are shared by many and that we are all grateful that you shared with us. Many thanks, Adrianne
Thanks, Adrianne. Even if you never called and asked for her advice you’d be sure to hear your question asked by another caller. As much as we all think that we’re so special and so unusual, it turns out that many of our problems are similar to everyone else’s.
Thanks for the memory.
For me, since I carry some of her advice around in my mind, her memory will live on.
I hear that.
good morning DEAREST RONNIEI didn’t know Dr. Browne passedshe was one of THE MOST SPECIALpeople on WOR back in the days ofmartha dean, the fitzgerald, Joani can’t recall her last namei agree with everything you recalledabout that wonderful sensible lady
Thanks, Lynn. It’s good to reconnect with people from the past who influenced the way we think.