YOLO

In consideration of the words of a famed psychologist (Dr. David Burns), there is no real 'healthy or normal depression.' Have you ever considered that notion? True, we feel sorrow from time to time, throughout the course of our lives on this earth, but sorrow and depression are not the same thing...says he. Funny thing; I've seen so many blog posts and cover pictures posted by my friends far and near, portraying my own thoughts, recently, that I have to wonder if something is in the air, or if something is common to this phase of life...or if something is happening in the world, at large. Even as I was getting ready to sign into my blog this morning, after months of having been away, I saw a cover graphic heading for the blog of one of my very dear friends that read: "Life is too short to spend it with people who suck the happiness out of you." I had to stop and think about that one. If I had a nickle for every time I've heard someone say, "life's too short to...(insert your choice of what to do or not to do here)," I'd be...we'll, I'd still be poor, but you know what I mean :) It's sort of like the youth of today, espousing the mantra: YOLO. I've told my kids to NOT say that, at least around me. I've always associated it with "eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die," and that's the sort of reckless thinking that winds people up in trouble, with nothing to lose, because they've already lost it. Thing is; life is short. Life is too short. I don't know if there is enough time for me to get myself completely upright. Like a kid off balance on a bicycle...wobbling... I used to think I knew so much and that I was so capable. Having buried my grandfather, my brother, my sister, my father and my own daughter by the time I was 21, (add to that my oldest son born with Cerebral Palsy), I thought I had lived through so many difficult life's experiences, that I had developed an insight and wisdom beyond my years. I definitely developed an appreciation for the 'life is short' statement. The more I go along the path, though, the more I'm convinced I know very little. I really haven't traveled very far. I haven't really any wisdom, to speak of... I'm just a middle aged woman, who's lived her life, so far, trying to do what was best for the people I love...finding joy in motherhood beyond anything else... I believe finding in joy in motherhood is what God intended for me...I don't believe God intends us to be unhappy. I don't believe He intends us to be unkind to each other or to try to make each other unhappy intentionally, out of anger or selfishness. I don't believe we are intended to throw caution to the wind, because, after all, you only live once (YOLO). There are some things I believe and some things I don't believe. There are very few things I KNOW. There are very many things I just don't know. I don't know if the key to my own happiness is in my right pocket or my left...or if I put it in another pair of jeans. I don't know if happiness really can be sucked out of one person by another, or if that notion is an example of cognitive distortion. I don't know if I'm unique, or if we are all living the same life...the same, one life...the life we only live once...

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