We know.
A lifetime of happiness! No man alive could bear it; it would be hell on earth.
George Bernard Shaw said this once, and may I concur: the man's got a point. The thing is though, we all know it. We heard the Yin and Yang stuff, and we know about the silver lining of the dark cloud and that birds sing after the storm. And to top it off, we've done it all before, we fought, we worried, we hurt, we were pissed off, we thought it would never end, but it always did somehow. It always got better at some stage and we looked back at how lost we were before and thought, Jesus, thank God that's over.
So yeah, we know it all, but deep down, we still wish we could have the Yang without the Yin, the silver lining without the cloud, and the birds without the storm. We know it's stupid and that we should be careful what we wish for, but we secretly want hell on earth: a lifetime of happiness.
posted by Bettina at 8:00 AM
24 Comments:
I understand contrast. I understand why we need the one to appreciate the other, but...if I am totally happy, why do I need or would I want to be unhappy. Just give me the happiness and leave me alone...I am not a person who likes to dwell in misery. Mine or anyone elses...You have been on the mountain too long sucking on thin air...Welcome back!
August 6, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I'd survive with one day of happiness per month. Preplanned and waiting every month for it. I had a post about happiness on my blog that was so crazy I made it my subtitle. I'd write it here but it's a little depressing.
August 6, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Since I've spend the past few years living in a world of lies and liars, right now a little bit of happiness wouldn't go amiss....
August 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Mystic- I understand it too, but then much like you, I always wish the unhappiness would just very briefly rear its ugly head, just to remind us that it still exists and make us appreciate the beauty even more, and the piss off real quick.
YSB- I saw it and thought it was interesting. It's all a matter of perception, I guess. Generally, I'm still one of those annoying glass-half-full people. Not at this very moment in time, but more often than not.
SJ- You deserve all the happiness in the world, and it will find you.
August 6, 2008 at 7:18 PM
shaw has a point but luckily his hair covers it.
it's possible to be a happy person, despite the stomach lining, silver lining or lining up.
it's possible to be happy despite stage fright, cancer and the fact certain medications have to be taken anally.
so what if we get scared, depressed, can't pass a math test or match belt with shoes?
some people are just happy, you know. happy savants. retarded happy. naturally happy. optomists. positive outlookers.
so you can't be happy 100% of the time.
but you can compartmentalize the bad that happens. you can ignore it, pretend it doesn't happen. shake it off. tough it out. fahgetaboudit. it didn't happen. most of the time
life can be a great big yin. with a teeny tiny yan. it's possible to be unbalanced. happiness grades on a curve.
love seems to help. chocolate. fresh peaches. and friends.
i need to go, it's time for my medication. hugs.
August 6, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Sera, I love you. Thank you for being so awesome.
August 7, 2008 at 4:53 AM
Sounds like you've had a rough time of it lately. I have found that the harder the situation is to endure, the happier I end up when I have endured it. And, I am a generally happy person, even on the bad days. Hope you get through it quickly and unscathed.
I have always believed that the pain reminds us that we are alive and the pleasure is what lets us enjoy living. Without one, you wouldn't recognize the other for what it is. I wish Shaw were wrong, but the man seemed to have been spot on in his assessment.
Do you hear that? It sounds like birds singing, to me.
August 7, 2008 at 5:48 AM
I absolutely agree, Larry. Khalil Gibran says "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain", and of course, he is so right. After all, he is Khalil Gibran.
All these things I know, yet when I have a hard time, I sometime wish I could just turn it off. Silly me. But guess what? I think that sound might just be the birds singing in the distance.
August 7, 2008 at 7:32 AM
Oh, yes. I completely understand.
And yes - the birds are in the distance, and coming closer.
And remember - you have a whole world of friends out here, willing to help and listen and share the misery with you.
(((HUGS)))
August 7, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Khalil Gibran was on drugs and I shot that damn bird that kept singing. That lil blue feathered thing won't bother you anymore, and who drank half of my drink anyway...dirty bast*#%!
August 7, 2008 at 6:49 PM
Yep ... I can look back on my life and know that the hard times made me grow hugely as a person. But I still want to say fcuk off when I'm in the midst of it.
It doesn't change when you get older either. You still get to go on this treadmill of learning by good/bad experience.
It's a cosmic joke ... we all keep going hoping to turn the magic corner and find it... Utopia!
Have you seen the movie Across the Universe? I sort of think of it as the Magical Mystery Bus tour in that movie. Far out man! Lol!
August 7, 2008 at 7:38 PM
Eventually you reach a point in your life when another beer is good enough.
August 7, 2008 at 9:04 PM
Mystic- Gibran wasn't on drugs, but I think you might be? You shot the bird that was bringing the good times?
Aggs- Best just to laugh at the cosmic jokes- if you have the energy for it. I haven't seen Across the Universe yet, but it's on my to do list.
Chris- I'm not quite there yet, but it sounds comforting.
August 8, 2008 at 2:11 AM
Callie- Thank you. I did hear the birds too, but unfortunately, Mystic seems to have shot them now!
August 8, 2008 at 2:31 AM
That was really deep for 9:46am. Amazing. Thank you for the silver lining reminder. My day will be much brighter now :)
Kudos Ms Bettina!
August 8, 2008 at 2:50 AM
bettina. et tu aussi.
August 8, 2008 at 5:16 AM
I bet I could coax you for some sweets.
August 8, 2008 at 6:28 PM
U.G.Krishnamurti said something like, our bodily system would break down under such an onslaught, non-stop happy. The brain, nerves, etc., aren't designed for that.
A little more personal, though, the way you put it. And I agree, it's what we secretly want, which is right up against the (I think also secret)knowledge that we couldn't really take it.
Is it any wonder (nearly) everyone knows what 'neurosis' means?
Ha!Ha! Hmmm...
P.S.: I like Sera's point(teehee), and Chris's. Now, s'cuse me, gotta go get a beer. (not everything can be for everyone)[ain't that a relief!]
August 9, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Thanks :)
August 9, 2008 at 6:40 PM
Would we be able to appreciate the good side if we didn't know it's opposite, meaning what is not good?
August 10, 2008 at 9:22 PM
How can we recognize "happy", if we don't understand the "unhappy" emotions?
August 10, 2008 at 9:23 PM
As we move through life happiness takes on new shapes. When people who shaped you have died, when you have seen momunental disappointment and tragedy, it gives you a new perspective on happiness - until we finally realize we have never really completely known what happiness really is.
August 11, 2008 at 5:59 AM
Wow... it's like you caught wind of what's happening with me. It's my number speciality sweating the small stuff, the big stuff and even the medium stuff. Not good because stress is bad bad bad...
Working on it though...
Thanks for the reminder!
All the best always,
M
August 14, 2008 at 9:57 AM
Me thinks Mr. Shaw was spot on.
You have to have been unhappy, to have gone through the tough times to even start appreciating being carefree and happy for a change.
Even if it's just for moments, which is kinda how happiness really works.
If it lasted longer, if it seemed like it was becoming the norm most of us would get suspicious, then worried, then restless and ruin it anyway..:roll:
Humans..:P
August 21, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home