melancholy

i've always thought that melancholia was a justification i came up with for being "emo". there were definitely those truly "emo" times where tears were shed and spirits were dampened, but mostly of the time i think i hang in the balance between the two extremes of the human emotions. walking a fine line, struggling between the polarities of consciousness.

melancholia is "turbulent", while depression is "passive". i think that's what i've always been trying to explain to myself and others.

what prompted me to these thoughts was this book that i fortuitously chanced upon entitled against happiness. kind of a counter intuitive title, but i adore it. i don't have a copy but i'm quite aware of what the author wants to put across - an expose into melancholia.


and it's also not surprising that some of the most creative works of our times were composed when the artistes have immersed themselves in this strange and ambivalent state of emotion.

time to put it on the christmas wishlist.



+listening to: woman of heart and mind by joni mitchell