Happiness and Sorrow

Happiness and Sorrow *

In a single day, I had to visit two very different places. The first was a joyous celebration of the birth of a child—a child the parents had been waiting many years to welcome. The atmosphere was filled with happiness and delight, and I was overjoyed for my friend. I stayed for a few hours, sharing in the collective joy of everyone present.

The second place was a hospital. The child of another friend had been in an accident. This young man, the only child in his family, was in critical condition. The hospital was shrouded in sorrow, and I shared in their grief, offering comfort to my friend during this difficult time.

For as long as I can remember, I have encountered such situations repeatedly. In one corner of life’s world, there is happiness; in another, there is sorrow. Happiness and sorrow are not separate from us—they are part of our existence. We live with them, and life places a heavy burden on our shoulders, demanding that we learn to coexist with both joy and grief simultaneously.

If you are happy, laugh softly so that sorrow is not disturbed; if you are sad, cry gently so that joy is not disheartened.
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*-I wrote this note on February 16, 2013, and edited it today.