The Human Condition

If everything happens for a reason then should we find solace in our sadness?

               Nobody chooses to grieve the loss of a loved one. Nobody wants to cry
               over the agony of a painful breakup. Nobody hopes to die a slow death
               from metastatic cancer. But in life these things happen and you do what 
               you can to get through them.

To suffer is to be human. To feel loss, to feel joy...it is a part of the journey. And there is comfort in knowing that our tears are not shed in vain...that whether we laugh or whether we cry - it all has a deeper meaning or comes from a higher power. So should we embrace pain as openly as we would embrace pleasure?    If we blunt the intensity of these emotions with medication...are we stunting our experience of the human condition? In the process of maintaining control in our lives as we struggle to cope, do we end up losing an essential piece of the puzzle... (the essential piece being enlightenment) ?  

What did people do before the era of advanced pharmaceuticals? Did people experience sadness in a different way?....in a functionally less debilitating way? Were they inherently stronger because they were forced to deal with life without using xanax or prozac as a crutch. Instead of the luxury of paying a stranger to listen to you bitch and moan ...instead of the convenience of popping a pill so you can feel comfortable in your own shitty reality....back in the day - people were more likely to rely on each other for emotional support. Did they develop stronger social bonds as a result of that?  Back in the day - people were more compelled towards action rather than waiting for things to change. Without a safety net, without any lifelines, the human spirit fights for survival...it is the conveniences of modern life that have weakened our survival skills. The luxuries have handicapped us...and left us doubting our inner strength. We have become mere victims of fate rather than masters of our destiny.

Guilty as Charged. Where my drugs at...where my shrink at...Someone call the waaambulance. Is there an app for this? Can I get a pill as a prophylactic measure...so I never feel anything but amazing? Can I get a rain-check for this drama-fest? Does feeling emotionally handicapped get me parking privileges?

on metaphorical crutches,
ElyVas