You do not get to choose the events that come your way nor the sorrows that interrupt your life. They will likely be a surprise to you, catching you off guard and unprepared. You may hold your head in your hands and lament your weak condition and wonder what you ought to do. To suffer, that is common to all. To suffer and still keep your composure, your faith, and your smile, that is remarkable. Pain will change you more profoundly than success or good fortune. Suffering shapes your perception of life, your values and priorities, and your goals and dreams. Your pain is changing you.
— David Crosby (Crosby has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once for his work in the Byrds and again for his work with Crosby Stills Nash. Five albums to which he contributed are included in Rolling Stone’s The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time)
I read a great book called The Art of Happiness, written by the 14th Dalia Lama and Howard Cutler, a psychiatrist who posed questions to the Dalai Lama. I found comfort in a lot of the Dalai Lama’s answers to some of the tough questions about the human condition. For example, and I’m paraphrasing from what I remember (I read the book a number of years ago now), the Dalai Lama explains that our suffering may actually allow us to develop a deeper sense empathy. If we’ve been through something similar to our fellow human, our shared suffering will likely bring us closer together. I love that. Just sayin’ :) Hugs. XO
Blessings,
Chatgirl
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