Melancholy
By John W. Vander Velden
Why do we feel that we
are supposed to be happy all the time…like it’s our right or something? But we have been lied to, snookered,
fooled. Let’s not go into the imaginable
possibility that anyone can be giddy 24-7-52-FOREVER. Rather as we look at our own lives when
difficulties, and disappointments come our way, and joy seems to take a back
seat, we feel cheated. Don’t we deserve
to be happy…all the time…surely it
is in the constitution? You know one of
the amendments…
But how do we measure…happy
or happiness? What ruler can we use, or
maybe it takes a measuring glass of some sort. Isn’t happiness a state of mind…something
intangible yet real? Doesn’t joy need
contrast to give it value?
Perhaps that is why it is
said that artist tend to be melancholy.
Maybe because they feel a bit more than others…see things differently
than the masses. Now I don’t recommend
depression, it is something I face, and those that deal with that darkness
understand just how dark it can be. But
just as light needs darkness to give it value, joy needs moments of
un-joy. For life…the real deal…is filled
with a mix of good times and, well, bad.
The world is not a perfect place, and we are not perfect people, and
living our imperfect lives in this imperfect place cannot give us perfect
bliss.
The desire to be happy
all the time is unrealistic…but more, it is just plain unhealthy. It is great to carry a positive
attitude. Wonderful to be cheerful. Grand to go about smiling. But even the highways we drive on vacation
have potholes. We need to deal with the
bumps, but the bumps do not make journey impossible. They just help us enjoy the better portions
of the road all the more. To accept that
there are times when we are sad…and that’s alright…it is an important
step….providing we do not allow sadness to swallow us.
So many things in our
lives are a matter of balance.
Understanding the weight on either side of the scale helps keep things
level. So recognizing we will not be happy…all
the time…recognizing that days come when sadness exists…and seeing the
balance. Sometimes the scale appears to
lean one direction or the other, but with the right attitude in the end things
will even out. We need to be patient.
In this matter, I try to
live by a simple rule…laugh often…smile whenever I can…and cry when I need
to. Sounds easy enough…but not
everything is as simple as it sounds…but the balance is worth the effort. For I accept the melancholy moments, they
make the joy filled days shine!
(464 Words) 11/10/2018
