When I was a younger, sullen person, sulking a bit much at the world and all its travails, I was given a very good piece of advice once: to learn to be light and use humor. I don't think I have succeeded in all facets of my life but goodness knows, I try. I was looking at some old collections and came across these lines I had saved in a draft. I hope you enjoy them as well.
“It’s dark because you are trying too hard.
Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly.
Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply.
Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.
I was so preposterously serious in those days, such a
humorless little prig.
Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me.
When it comes to dying even. Nothing ponderous, or
portentous, or emphatic.
No rhetoric, no tremolos,
no self conscious persona putting on its celebrated
imitation of Christ or Little Nell.
And of course, no theology, no metaphysics.
Just the fact of dying and the fact of the clear light.
So throw away your baggage and go forward.
There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet,
trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair.
That’s why you must walk so lightly.
Lightly my darling,
on tiptoes and no luggage,
not even a sponge bag,
completely unencumbered.”
~Aldous Huxley
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