That’s Woody Allen in Annie Hall, and he is exactly right. 
Life is lonely and miserable, brimming with suffering and unhappiness, and too short, because life also is warm and inviting and joyous and overflowing with pleasure and satisfaction and peace and possibility. Life can be so much fun when it doesn’t stink and who knows what wretched events await, who knows what unqualified delights and gratifications will come.
One of the saddest moments of my adult life was when my daughter, 14 at the time, said, “Daddy, I can’t help it, that’s just the way I am.” Oh, honey, no no no. The way you am today is just the way you am today.
There are so many things that can change, so many things that you can change, that you can do differently. But the thing that must change, absolutely must change, is your mind. You have to change how you look at things, how you react, how you think. Changing your mind can help avoid some of the unhappiness. Changing your mind can turn misery into a body-building exercise. You become stronger, smarter, happier, for having survived the ordeal. And don’t wait too long to change, because life is all over much too quickly.
this observation/relization somewhat relates to this post. in the past two weeks i have been told twice that i am a nice person which wouldn't necessarily stick out in my mind except that I was told this by two young children. And what was I did to garner this accolade??? I took the time to visit with them. I think it is terribly sad that as adults we are so busy we often forget to visit with the "little ones". Just think what we are teaching them when we don't make time just to visit and get to know who they are. When we get old....they aren't going to make time for us. bummer for us
Posted by: turner | April 13, 2006 1:09 PM | Permalink to Comment