It feels something like this

[kismetrose]

Sometimes someone writes something that explains how you feel so perfectly, so completely, that even if it's sad, you feel grateful.  Because you're not alone.

Sometimes the words you write aren't enough.  They get stuck.  They fall short.  This is where someone else steps in and speaks for you, even when they think they're just speaking for

Comments

[aladdar]

There's a phrase that I've used to hold onto sanity in times like this. Its gotten me through heartache, sickness, stress, arguments, children temper tantrums, and any other myriad of thoughts. It is, "This too shall pass." I wish I still had it, but I used to keep a piece of paper in my wallet with this phrase written at the top of it. Everytime I'd hit a point where I felt like life was ending for whatever reason I'd make a note on the paper because it was at those times that I'd remind myself that "This too shall pass..." When it had passed, I'd make a check mark. It was wonderful to go back at times and see all the times that phrase had held truth.
Unfortunately I washed my wallet one day and ruined it and never started over with it again. Maybe I should.

[kismetrose]

I've appreciated the sentiment behind that saying, but honestly, it's always grated on me. Yes, this too shall pass. Everything will (ain't that a lovely thought?). I've got to find a way to be where I am and bear what I'm feeling right now.

I like the story about how you kept the saying in your wallet. I do little things like that, too. =)

[aladdar]

Maybe its the story from where I first heard the phrase that made it have more meaning to me. The story goes that a great King was facing an insurrection within his kingdom, worried, he ventured out to the top of the mountain to seek out the wisest sage in the Kingdom. After climbing to the top of the mountain and speaking with the sage about how to best deal with the situation, the sage handed him a vial. He told him that inside the vial is the solution to whatever problem raises itself against him. However he was given careful instruction that he must never open the vial until he was backed completely into a corner with no further options available to him, and only at his very wits end was he to open this powerful device

[kismetrose]

Aaaahhh, I see! Okay, that story is cool. It seems to have more of a "sword of Damocles" feel to it than a "this too shall pass" feel, though.

I have a similar fondness for the story of the tiger and the strawberry. I first heard it, of all places, from a character on King of the Hill.

"As a Buddhist, of course, I get comfort from a story. I don't need to tell you how much Buddhists love a story! ... Anyway, story begins with man being chased by ferocious man-eating tiger. Tiger chase him to edge of cliff. Man falls off. Halfway down, he grab onto branch. He look up, he see ferocious tiger. Now he look down, he see another hungry tiger, waiting for him on the ground below. Not a good place to be. He knows for sure he gonna die. Then out of corner of his eye he see a wild strawberry growing on same branch. He pluck it and eat it. And it was the sweetest-tasting strawberry he ever had."

It reminded me so much of life - and the "human sacrifice" in Fight Club, of course. =)