Posted by JohnL on August 10, 2000, at 4:46:11
In reply to Where the Roots Reach for Water - Anyone...???, posted by dj on August 7, 2000, at 19:43:20
DJ,
Sounds like an interesting book.In my experience/opinion only, I agree with the author that sufferers of melancholia, or people who are sad-by-nature, gain a deeper enrichment of life.
Ironically I brush my best paintings and finger the best music when I'm really down. The resulting pieces of art are less intricate than the ones I do when I'm feeling good. They are more simple. But they have much deeper expressed emotion. And viewers or listeners are more drawn to those pieces that were done while depressed. There's something inherently richer about the depressed pieces. Something you can't put your finger on, but it's there, and it's strong.
The problem is that even the painter or composer of those enriched pieces of art cannot appreciate them until they are out of depression. Only then can they appreciate and rejoice in the enrichment gained from a melancholic experience, and be truly marveled at these pieces of art they did with their own hands. While depressed, the artist will likely comment on his/her own work 'crap'. But when they have a temporary escape from melancholia and then view those same pieces of art, the comment might instead likely be 'wow, holy cow, heavy duty, I can't believe I did that, unreal'.
Though I'm just using an example based on the world of art, I believe the same phenomenon spans all areas of life. Melancholia is good because it creates a deep enrichment unavailable by any other means. But it's also bad because it prevents true celebration of the enrichment gained.
Why the author thinks melancholia shouldn't be erased with a pill is beyond my comprehension. He must love pain. I don't. I'm not depressed right now, but I carry with me close to my heart the enrichment I gained during melancholia. It's not something that is forgotten or lost. If I ever need reminding, I can just stop taking my pills for a couple days. Enrichment or not, my life is far better with pills than without. I accept melancholia and I accept that's the way I am. But to refuse a remedy of any kind I think is irresponsile to one's self, one's spouse, one's children, one's career, one's friends. If one is diabetic by nature, he/she must first accept it to deal with it. And then treat it. I see no difference with melancholia. If that special gift of enrichment is ever needed, it's real easy...just put the pills in a closet for a few days.
John
poster:JohnL
thread:42352
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000729/msgs/42488.html