".. joy and sorrow are inseparable... together they come and when one sits alone with you... remember that the other is asleep upon your bed."

This quote struck a cord with me today.  With a year that has been filled with so many ups and downs, so many sorrows and so many joys, I felt that this quote is a reminder that we must keep with us as we go on life's journey.  I wouldn't have gotten through the hard times this past year, if I didn't have hope that joy would find it's way back into my life.  Just as much as we have to have  hope that joy will come back into our lives, we also have to prepare that life will through hard times are way.  As we get older, it seems that "life" happens.  Our hearts are broken, we are faced with disappointments, and we see the ones we love leave this world.  Nothing can ever fully prepare you for these things, but, if you understand that all of this is apart of the life cycle, I do believe that it can give you hope.

I think that sorrow is necessary in this world, just as joy is necessary.  To experience deep sorrow can make you a more tender human being. Before I lost my Dad, I "felt bad" for someone who lost a loved one, but I couldn't truly relate to their pain. Now, when I hear of someone losing a loved one, my heart literally aches for them. It makes me want to reach out because although their journey of grief will be different from mine, I can understand.  It is hard to relate to a deep sorrow unless you have experienced it yourself.  It can help you to learn to appreciate what you are given in this life, and to truly appreciate the times of joy. And, experiencing sorrow can make you a more compassionate and better human being, as long as you don't let your sorrow consume you.  

I am not saying that I would wish a deep sorrow on anyone.  But, I do believe that it is apart of this life.  We are not perfect, as is nothing in this life. I think that what matters is the outlook you have on life and the way you live your life.  You cannot control all that life will throw your way; you cannot control it when someone you love becomes ill; you cannot control all of life's personal disappointments and failures.  What you can control though, is how you respond to it.  It is easy to be bitter with life.  It is easy to say "why me".  As you live your life keep in mind that we are all human. And, that as humans we are all going to experience the same raw emotions in life.  Everyone's life takes a different course.  I believe that the one thing that ties us together is our ability to feel; the ability to feel joy, pain, sorrow, and happiness.  And, we have the ability to respond to our emotions; to rise up, or to fall down; to more forward, or to become bitter.

My wish for you is that when you find yourself in times of trouble, you move forward into the light.  And, that when you find yourself in a state of bliss, you treasure every minute.  Life is too precious to live life bitterly, and it is to precious to not appreciate what we are given.  Know that with sorrow, will come joy.  Also know, that your happiness in life in life is not about the amount of tough times you have or had not had.  It is about your state of mind, and how you choose to respond to the difficulties thrown your way. Choose to push forward when sorrow comes your way, and I promise you, that joy will wake up.