Stay Strong. Or Be Positive?

My Lakota friends always encourage me to be strong in times of hardship. Be strong and keep yourself in good spirit, that is the wisdom of my elders. Some may add "keep the faith" but, more or less, that's the general advice.

My beloved friend Tom Robbins (yes, the best-selling author and "most dangerous writer in the world"), added a fantastic teaching in his never-preaching tone. One day we were walking in the woods of the Olympic Peninsula, not far from his nest in the country land North East of Seattle, and he explained to me why, as a writer, he decided to walk on the positive edge. He said there were already enough books talking about death, sickness, murder, divorce, betrayal, inadequacy, jealousy and envy or, more generally, tragedy so he decided instead to be a happy writer. Stay on the positive side. And if shit happens in your life, as it very often still happens even if you try to avoid it, gulp it down with the bubbles in a glass of champagne. Don't write about it. Or if you feel the need to, try to sprinkle it with humor and hope, wit and some pearls of crazy wisdom.

When I took up blogging, I was inclined by instinct to follow in Tom's footsteps. No matter how many bloggers used their blogs to vent out, I felt like readers cannot be treated as trash cans. They do not need more emotional garbage from other people to deal with. A little sharing is admitted but pure rage or gossip, small talking and negative emotions should be banned by blogs that claim to be in favor of clean energy.

This is, of course, my answer to several inquiries I received by you, dear readers, worrying about my lack of enthusiasm and lack of energy-boosting posts. I just need a little time to regroup and recharge. I just need a little silence to clear up the constant headache that has been bothering me in the last months. But, hell, no! I am not suicidal neither depressed. Sad? Yes, sometimes I am, and those are the times I do not feel like writing here. Frustrated? Not anymore. It's getting better any day I get closer to my departure date.

I feel like I am no longer a prisoner with a long sentence here in Italy, and that is definitely big improvement. Freedom is in the air and May in Los Angeles is celebrated as the Month Of The Purple Tree since it's the time of blooming for the jacaranda trees. I am very happy to go back to L.A. under their omen. Nothing born under their star could ever go wrong, I believe. And, yes, I WILL keep the faith this time. You bet!

Comments

[yoko]

"Or if you feel the need to [vent], try to sprinkle it with humor and hope, wit and some pearls of crazy wisdom."

This has been my philosophy about blogging, too. I think it makes for better reading material. And, just writing in a more positive light makes me think more positively as well.

Thanks for the reminder!