Joy, Misery & the Envy in Between | Creative Non-fiction & Musings

The hours after noontime swirled away like a good glass of sparkling wine.

I had a pleasant afternoon today, an afternoon where life’s troubles bubbled away into a far-away stream as I sipped chamomile tea from a gilded teacup. Just so you know, I propped my feet up on my writing desk and read epic fantasy.

In keeping with the unblemished joie de vivre of this day, two braids - peeking out a river of brown tresses - cascaded down from the crown of my head.

If you have had asked me then, what was unhappiness, I would have looked at you as if I saw a grey-skinned alien from outer space. “Misery?‌‌ Never heard of it.”

Before you start a revolt, it is quite intriguing to note the nature of emotions. Emotions are akin to a full orchestra playing from a score which has the following musical instruction inscribed on the first page: “in perpetuity”.

All emotions - whether joy or its dreadful counterpart - seem in that very moment to last forever. The Stoic wisdom, “This too will pass”, goes on deaf ears when pleading with the muscular force of the human heart.

Perhaps after you wait for the turning of the tide and hear the sorrowful lament resounding in the valleys, you would exclaim, “That serves her right. No one has the right to be that happy.”

Or do they?

This short creative non-fiction piece was prompted by the pleasant afternoon (which I really had) and the slight twinge of what feels like guilt or uneasiness.

I could not precisely place.

The awareness that right now, others around the world are actually suffering tremendously, brings me to ponder whether it's inappropriate for people to feel joy - or at least to display their joys openly.

I also think of envy that looms over the entirety of social media, envy all too nasty which rears its ugly head. How many resent the billionaire celebrities who are in lockdown in their sprawling mansion?

Who, if they could, would storm in and protest in rage just because these celebrities say they're "bored"?

And what makes their words of "I'm bored" totally reprehensible? Is it their immeasurable wealth?

True, they probably should not flaunt it or speak apathetically, but does immeasurable wealth detract from the fact that they are merely human?

Boredom is a natural human emotion in each and every one of us, and so is envy.

Personally, I do not want envy to creep into my life. O, I know it's an insidious enemy, poisoning every fiber of my being. That's why I want to be vigilant.

When I see others flourishing, when I see others relishing in their big big houses, I don't want to be sitting here moping over living in a small apartment.

Instead, when I see others experiencing and expressing joy, I want to feel happy for them. I want to think, now how can I make that my own?

How can I be joyful too?

I've found that makes a world of a difference.

Let me know in the comments below what you think!

Thanks to @shadowspub's word prompt on 9th May: sparkling!

P.S. Image Source: Katherine Chase, Unsplash

P.P.S. Divider Source: @calumam

May we all continue writing, on the Hive! 💕