5.24.2006

Happiness:



Yesterday, JB commented on Bri's blog that "all of us are always blah, all the live long day." If that statement is true for most people, I feel more depressed than ever. Maybe it's just because I've spent most of my life coping with clinical depression but I've always assumed (or maybe hoped) that most people are happy. Not all of the time, of course. I know that many people have many "blah" days, but I assumed that was not a constant or typical state. Now, though, I'm wondering if blah is the normal state and it's foolish to hope for more.
So, people, are most of you happy, depressed or blah?

15 comments:

Bill Norris said...

I think there's a HUGE difference between "blah" and depression. "Blah" is an expression of everyday dissapointments and sadness, but it's not crippling and can easily be reversed by small, little moments of joy.

Or, "blah" means your functioning normally, as a human with a range of emotions, and depression is an illness that makes one non-functional...

Anonymous said...

i am most definitely not blah, ever. not to say i dont suicidely ideate most days. but i would not say blah.

Wes said...

So, Bill, if someone is blah every day, day after day, doesn't that eventually equal depression? Enough time of being blah and disatisfied makes me seriously wish for a quick and sudden death, although it is somewhat different from my suicidally depressed periods. I just think that no one should have babies and give them futures full of despair, but maybe that's just me and my clinical depression that makes me such easy prey.

Bill Norris said...

No, because a blah is the "I can't believe I have to go to this boring job" feeling as you get ready, but then when you leave the house, you see a pug in a stupid sweater and it makes you laugh. And, later, at lunch, they have fresh squeezed lemonade and it's soooo delicious, tart and sweet, that even though going back to the boring job sucks donkey balls, it's okay, because the day's almost over, and 24 is on tonight, and it's always a good night when 24 is on.

Wes said...

I definitely see the difference between the 'blah' that still has moments of happiness and the blah that's more like depression. The second type is what I consider the "typical" kind of blah because it's the kind of blah I get. It's not a suicidal depression so it doesn't count as depression for me. But it doesn't get many moments of happiness (only when I see the dogs).
But I still feel like the blah that you describe is still a very sad state if that's a frequent state.

Wes said...

And Z, I can't believe you're never blah. You're only up or down?

Bill Norris said...

Yes. Of course. But the trick is to understand that the moments of happiness are real and far more important. Because they are a loved one's smile over something shared and stupid. They are the etheral smell of lemon zest. They are the things that really matter.

Anonymous said...

After all weekend watching Alias, I'm surprised you don't covet Sydney Bristow this week! :)

lagiulia said...

I think Bill has a thing with lemons. If he is ever blah, immediately send him a case full of lemons, and he may just perk up.
Wow, I never imagined that my comment would be the subject of a Coveting post. daaaaaaaamn. Better watch what I write from now on, what with big brother watching and all.
I hope you know that I was not watering down depression status to blahness status. I was responding to Briar saying, "What the hell is wrong with me that I can't just feel relieved like a normal person," in reference to not having PCOS. It is more the infertility thing that I was relating to. If you want a baby, everything is sorta blah when you don't have one, even if your diagnosis is better than you thought it would be. You're right, it's still sad that blah may be the default feeling that most people carry around with them each day. That's where you just have to hope that the lemonade and lemon zest of which Bill speaks is enough to bring real moments of happiness and then hope that you can convince yourself that those moments of happiness are just as significant and wonderful as the big happy things like your wedding day or getting a new puppy. Or visiting good friends on a Saturday and feeling happy as you walk home because they are such good company, and you know you have good friends to call on when you need it. That changes things from blah to yeah!

Wes said...

Bri told me I am not allowed to covet Syney Bristow— or any other person. Nor am I allowed to covet her thinner or with bigger boobs. Hmmm.

lagiulia said...

I keep waiting for you to post a picture of your neighbor's wife.

Bill Norris said...

Have you seen their neighbor's wife? So not worth coveting.

Wes said...

Well, two of my upstairs neighbors have cute wives, but not so cute that I'd covet them.

lagiulia said...

I'll bet this is the most comments you've ever had on a post. Not even Briar's seen this many comments in a while! This proves that you are a super popular blogger with an almost cultish following.

Wes said...

Oh good, JB, I've always wanted to be a leader of a cult.