If You're Sick Of Being Sad, There's A Way Around It.

Expression is the key.

Buddhism teaches us that life is inherently suffering, and that the cessation of the suffering is achieved by the elimination of wanting and attachment. However, enlightenment is easier said than done. Attachment is a natural part of us. We get attached to our cities, families, friends and partners. All of the things we hold dear will change. Our parents will die, our cities will change, our friends will move and our partners will leave.

And that’s okay. Because the pain of wanting can be transcended into something beautiful, and that beauty can be found by diving directly into art and philosophy.

I’ve spent most of my life carrying a deep envy of others. I wanted what they had. Not in a material sense, although I was jealous of the comfort that it provided, I wanted the normalcy of stability in the sense of a nuclear family. I wanted a mom who could read, a dad who was around and siblings that were alive. I didn’t get those things, but I was given something else - a naturally critical eye and the ability to translate emotions that felt inexplicable into words.

I don’t know where it came from, but it came naturally, and the best things in life come naturally. I truly believe that all of us have something we’re naturally drawn to. Our brains are wired to activate when we’re near our purpose, and I think the ultimate form of our potential is in our ability to express ourselves. It manifests differently in all of us. Some people paint, some write, some make music, and some people find expression in their profession. They put their all into their work. A spreadsheet can be art if you care enough.

A tangible example of this can be found in Japanese culture, there is an emphasis on workmanship there that hasn’t really transferred over to the West. This is why for example Toyotas are simply better cars than their American counterparts. While much of the manufacturing has been automated since the early days of the Japanese automotive industry, the reputation of superior workmanship carries on.

This doesn’t stop with cars, it can be applied to anything. The average kettle used for boiling water can be found for as little as $10, but a handmade Japanese Kettle can cost upwards of $300. The difference in the value is a result of the artistry. So even if you don’t feel an artistic inclination, or you don’t know what to do or what project to start, you can find that even your day job can be an extension of yourself if you put care into it. If you put your all into something, people will notice, and you’ll feel less alone.

Nearly 10 years ago, I wrote a college paper at a community college in Contra Costa County. The paper opened the doors of UC Berkeley to me, I didn’t attend because I felt it was a lost cause. I was wrong, but that’s not the point. When I wrote the paper, I didn’t procrastinate or rush through. I thoughtfully wrote it with care. When you do something with care, you make it art, and the world begins to open up.

Sadness is universal, through art in the broadest of senses, you can convert it to fuel. This will ensure you never run out of gas until it’s time for the car to go home. And by that time, all the flat tires and bumps in the road will be worth it.

Because you made it worth it.