Contrast

If there is one thing I have learned from Positive Psychology it is that flourishing - living with purpose and meaning in your life - does not always mean happiness.  Thriving does not always mean positive emotions -  though the two often coincide.  Sometimes what helps you thrive - like spending ten hours straight writing a glorious paper that makes you proud does not bring you feelings of joy WHILE creating it.  But the struggle, the pain, the misery almost makes the good that much sweeter.  I'm not talking about writing papers anymore.

Appreciation of the good is stimulated by an awareness of the bad.  It is a sad truth of life.  We could not appreciate the good without contrast.  And that is why the hardships of our lives should be accepted, even appreciated as wholeheartedly as the beautiful moments.  As I sit here by my snowy windowsill in Denmark I would like to take this moment to appreciate the bad that has opened my eyes to the good, the pain that has made me feel pleasure even more strongly:  Thank you cold for making me appreciate the warmth. Thank you snow for making me appreciate the clear skys and green soccer fields that I was taking for granted.  Thank you loss for teaching me what it really means to have something worth cherishing.

Thank you bitter, for making the sweet sweeter.