Thursday, June 17, 2010

The bitter and the sweet

This is another comment that I thought deserved more than just a response in the "Comments" section. In a comment on my "Step Toads" post, ‪Dane E5R‬ said...

"So, Peter. This has nothing to with your current post, but I've been wondering this since I've been following this blog and seeing how much it appears you seem to be enjoying yourself these days.

Do you still believe that life is, at best, bittersweet?"

The short answer is "Yes, I do."

But I feel that deserves a little clarification. My interpretation of that quote from Jack Kirby's character Darkseid in Kirby's last issue of "Mister Miracle" is not (as some people take it) that life at its absolute best moments is bittersweet, but that life taken as a whole is. In other words, life is a sometimes ragged, sometimes smooth, blend of experiences and emotions ranging from bitter to sweet. And given the nature of human existence, that's the best we can expect.

I am discovering that perhaps the most important thing is how you deal with, how you accept with grace, the bitter parts (the sweet parts are pretty easy to deal with, after all). And even though I am finding much more joy in my life recently (and hope to continue to do so), there is still sadness. But I think I am doing better -- and hope to do better still -- at finding the right balance between the two. -- PL

3 comments:

mikeandraph87 said...

Great to hear Peter. Time is the best medicine and way to find that balance.

Blacktiger said...

No one could have said it better
Peter

Tyr Germanic said...

good to hear,thanks for the clarification on that iconic quote.
"things change" was a great one too.

pl said.."I am discovering that perhaps the most important thing is how you deal with, how you accept with grace, the bitter parts (the sweet parts are pretty easy to deal with, after all)."

i agree. i tell people a similar thing when theyre in a spot,only my version is nobody is remembered for what they do during peace,but for what they do in hard times or "crises".
and that most "crises" for average modern day americans aren't really crises.

its different but kinda the same.