Simple As That

I believe every storyteller must be well familiar with sadness. They must have tasted it at least once. And no, not the silly, melancholy stuff. Not a little splash of it. Not a cup of sorrow dumped over their heads. They must have nearly drowned in it at least one time. It must have filled them up to the top. Sadness makes our stories thicker, fuller, more truthful.

“Tears are words that need to be written.” 
― Paulo Coelho

I also believe a true storyteller must fill their bellies with gladness. Yes, the sky is tall. Yes, the music is sweet. Yes, the book is too long and time too short. Yes, the laughter is loud and wild. Yes, and again yes. For all the moments we’ve met with sadness, we’ve indulged it only for a time. Then, we have slapped it in the face, called it pathetic, and sent it back to where it belongs, to someplace we’ll never bother to visit ourselves. We use it and tell it be gone. We master it.

We have overcome. Or else we would not tell our stories.

We have found truth. Or else we would keep our pens silent.

We are happy. Or else we would not be happy.

“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” 
― Jonathan Safran Foer

Simple as that.