I feel like the word “feelings” has become something of a buzzword lately. Like every time I mention how I’m feeling, 93.4% of the people around me bunker down behind the nearest solid object and whip out their hard hats, as if I might launch a gloomy grenade in their direction at any moment. I find that males in general are especially adverse to this two-syllable word. You can almost see the pallor in their faces green as they contemplate the fact that they might have to listen to your emotional spew for twenty minutes—or worse, they might be required to also do some emotional spewing themselves. Bless the male heart, feeling just doesn’t seem to be their thing. And that’s ok. Trust me, us girls, we have enough passion for the entire world’s populous, you men probably don’t need to contribute to this particular verse.
But I feel the need to assert that just because people “feel” things, that doesn’t always make them “sad.” In fact, sometimes even the word “Sad” doesn’t mean Sadness, or Depression, or even Gloominess. Sometimes, I think sadness is just sort of an emotional upsweep that isn’t exactly happy so writers reach for a word that means the opposite—and that happens to be “sad.” But the coolest thing about this word, and this *brace yourselves* feeling, is how diverse it happens to be. For me, when I am feeling sad, it is a time that I feel most pliable—most introspective—most willing to be molded by my Heavenly Father. It is an intense, passionate upheaval of sentiment—cathartic in nature, and thus completely curable—delightful in occasional execution. Sadness can even be a little bit pretty sometimes.
Over all, I think sadness creates, by far, some of the most beautiful music.
I mean, listen to this line by Wordsworth (a man who…just… gets it, in my opinion):
“The still, sad music of humanity,
Nor harsh nor grating, though of ample power
To chasten and subdue.”
Pretty, Right? Sad, a little–but mostly just pretty.
Do you get it? Can anyone relate to my redefinition of this word? I think lots of people can relate, actually. Otherwise there would be less of this:
How pretty does that sound? May the sad elaborate music of humanity continue, and you may contribute a verse.
PS: How much do you love this new blog design?!
Love it!
So so true, I know exactly what you mean.
And yes, your new blog design is beautiful! I love that photo on top, perfect.
This delights my soul. Feelings aren't dangerous… or if they are, it's a delicious danger. Anyway, we need them to help us know we are alive.
The elaborate melancholy at the end made me grin. I love your blog.
LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE the new design. The old-fashioned typewriter keys are perfection.
I love the new design and I love your definition of sad. I agree and love the Wordsworth quote you used. You are just a clever girl!
Your post reminded me of this – sad perhaps, but mostly beautiful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfwWKCRth_A&feature=related
Yann Tiersen is amazing at capturing that mood, methinks.