“I actually attack the concept of happiness. The idea that – I don’t mind people being happy – but the idea that everything we do is part of the pursuit of happiness seems to me a really dangerous idea and has led to a contemporary disease in Western society, which is fear of sadness. It’s a really odd thing that we’re now seeing people saying “write down 3 things that made you happy today before you go to sleep”, and “cheer up” and “happiness is our birthright” and so on. We’re kind of teaching our kids that happiness is the default position – it’s rubbish. Wholeness is what we ought to be striving for and part of that is sadness, disappointment, frustration, failure; all of those things which make us who we are. Happiness and victory and fulfillment are nice little things that also happen to us, but they don’t teach us much. Everyone says we grow through pain and then as soon as they experience pain they say “Quick! Move on! Cheer up!” I’d like just for a year to have a moratorium on the word “happiness” and to replace it with the word “wholeness”. Ask yourself “is this contributing to my wholeness?” and if you’re having a bad day, it is."
~ Hugh Mackay
Oh, how this quote resonates with my life as of late. I am the girl who has a 13 page happy list, the one who attempts optimism in all situations. Yet, my life is all sorts of sadness, disappointment, frustration, and failure. My recent life goal is to become more balanced, more whole. Because the marrow of life will be found in these situations which contribute to our wholeness. This blog (much to the request of others) will serve as a place to document the marrow of my life, everything which makes me whole.
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