Welcome, Sadness!

Against the Tyranny of Constant Happiness

Greetings friends,

If you’re feeling happy and full of life, drop everything and prick up your ears!
Many leading psychologists, neuroscientists, philosophers, and, yes, even high school gym teachers all agree that temporary sadness, melancholy, grief, disappointment, even periods of existential gloom can actually serve useful psychological functions.

Here are some benefits of temporary sadness:

sharper reflection and self-awareness

greater empathy and emotional depth

more careful decision-making

motivation to change something in one’s life

emotional contrast that makes joy and pleasure feel meaningful.

So, please allow me to make you sad. Temporarily.

____________________________________________________________

I Continue to wait

for the end of the show.

The prophets are late.

Nowhere to go.

The world hasn’t burned,

though everyone swore.

I yawn in the doorway,

still waiting for more.

If I haven’t made at least some of you sad (temporarily), I deeply apologize.

Thanks for reading and being a subscriber.
’Til next time.
ak