Holy shit. Apparently, summer is over.

As some of you may have noticed,  I’ve been rather MIA from blogging during the past few months, although I assure you it’s not for lack of trying.

In fact, I just went through and browsed the many drafts that had been started — and  left unfinished — trying to get an idea of what’s been going on/what my mindset’s been as I sit to write this prodigal son blog after months of silence.

And it seems all these drafts seem to center around a common theme, or at least a common emotion: melancholy.

I’m willing to accept the low swings during the winter — hell, the season practically warrants it: dead, frozen ground, constantly gray skies — the buzzing, dull electricity of snow. But the summer — well, experiencing this when the sun is shining and everyone and everything is so happy to be living, so happy to be kissed by the golden sun… that is something cruel.

For the past few months, nature has done its part to act accordingly — the weather has been warm, and produced lazy, balmy evenings. The grass was lush, and I could comfortably wear skirts and dresses and feel their light material catch the air and the back of my legs when I walk. I awoke to sunshine — and even better, I drove home in it. Even with my extended commute, the sunlight still lingered for at least an hour or two, so I didn’t feel like I missed the entire day.

But sadly, although nature was pleasantly in sync, my mind has been disconnected, and has been experiencing its own icy winter.

The melancholy is hard to explain — I never can quite put my finger on when it crept back in again, or what specifically caused it. Usually, it’s not just one thing — usually it’s something nagging that trickles into something sad, which rolls into another thing that’s somewhat upsetting. And suddenly I’m left with that bittersweet feeling that’s comforting and debilitating all at the same time.

There are plenty of culprits for feeling this way — having the apartment we were supposed to move into in May unexpectedly fall through, which required my husband and I to move back in with my parents, and the complete lack of control that I’ve felt over my life/freedom since; having to recognize more clearly how my mother’s Alzheimer’s has progressed; and watching dear friends deal with terrible sadness after terrible sadness — death, illness, financial issues, all of the above.

I have always been willing to believe and accept the mantra that “things happen for a reason” — through bad break ups, misaligned friendships/jobs, the various bad-luck situations I’ve found myself in over the years — even my mother’s illness. I have hated the lessons learned, but I have been accepting of them and have looked to find the silver lining, no matter how faint it might be…

And I’ve kept trying to push through, but honestly, I’m not sure what for. This has been the year of thinking, “If I can just make it through X…” — through tomorrow, through next week, through this month, through the latest stumble — If I can make it through these things, I will be OK. If I can deal with the latest frustration, or disappointment, or heartache, the clouds looming over my heavy heart and mind will finally lift. But what is the solution to this? What are the things that need to happen for me to feel like I’m moving on with my life, getting to the positive “what’s next”?

Recently, a Facebook friend posted a status update that resonated with me. Generally, I don’t take away much from the inspirational quotes lifted from day planner pages or motivational posters, but for whatever reason, this one grabbed me:

Happiness is not a given. Happiness is a fight, a struggle, a choice every day.

For me, this added an interesting perspective to my ongoing internal debate. For so long, I’ve been waiting — waiting for my mindset to change, waiting to figure out what it is I need/want for this life to feel fully realized. Bottom line: I’ve been hoping for happiness to find me. Sure, I’ve worked on different things in the hopes of helping it manifest, but I always viewed happiness/contentment at this thing that would finally emerge if I waited long enough for it.

But when has that ever been the case for anything? Everything is a fight or a struggle — everything I’ve ever wanted or needed or achieved has only been delivered after some serious pulling on the boot straps and sleeve rolling, couple with sweating, and bleeding, and tear producing. And although we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable Rights – -it’s important to note that the wording indicates that we have a right the  pursuit of that happiness, not happiness itself.

And so, I’ve decided to fully pursue this right to happiness, and will fight, doggedly, manically, brutally, to be happy.

To do this, I’m trying to come to terms with the things is my life that are making me realize more quickly and more profoundly that life is unexpected, and cruel, and harsh.  But while doing so, I’m working on also remembering that it is also beautiful, and magical, and that we really do only get one shot and we only have one chance to shoot at it. Also, before taking said shot, we will be blindfold and tasered…

I am working more proactively on shifting my perspective and shifting the perspective of those around me to one that’s more positive, more optimistic, more readily open and available to the happiness that might be passing me and others by because we’re so set on being not happy that it gets overlooked.

So for anyone out there who might be fighting this same battle, I urge you to fight on. Keep trying, keep thrashing, keep treading those murky waters. I can’t promise that you will find the exact happiness you’re looking for, but I can guarantee that it’ll be more worthwhile than waiting for the despair to drag you down.

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Tags: ends & odd, religion & philosophy // 1 Comment »