The Bright Side of Things #1
Accept "The Best Is yet to Come" Too Mean to Die, Nuclear Blast, 2021.
When it rains, I look for rainbows
When it’s dark, I see the stars
Call me a dreamer, call me naïve
I will always say, the best is yet to come
Call me a simple man, call me naïve
On my dying bed I’ll say, thе best is yet to come
I felt it was necessary to take a break from the Burden of Truth series, even though it's far from complete. Don’t worry readers, I’ll return to it in a few weeks. This break is truly welcome because it opens the door for me to write about other things, and who knows, these other things may contribute to shaping my thinking on the Iliad. I have a few series I started that I haven’t yet brought to conclusion. I doubt there will ever be a conclusion in the traditional sense because one’s thinking is always evolving. I will go back to them and pick up from where I stopped or do a complete turn. Writing in the newsletter has now become an enjoyable pursuit for me. It's no longer as daunting as when I first started, as writing, regardless of its quality, can be quite challenging, especially when you consider that anyone in the world can read it. It’s a different ball game if you knew your writing wasn’t for public consumption. You can write in whatever way your heart tells you. Fortunately for me, that fear is gradually fading away. Because the gap between what I truly think and what I commit to writing is coming down, albeit very slowly. But I can feel it. If it is any consolation, there’s something healing about it. In other news, on this Mother's Day, I extend my heartfelt wishes to all the mothers in the world, whether they are with us or not. I salute each and every one of them. I want to express special gratitude to my own mother, the true heroine in my life story. Without her, I wouldn't even be here, writing these words. We might have our occasional fall outs like normal people do but she has been my #1 cheerleader since the very first day I was conceived. May the universe keep her and bless her for me. For those who have lost their moms, my heart goes out to you. They might be gone, but they are hyper proud of you and are constantly guiding your every step.
No matter how dreadful my mood may be, listening to "The Best Is Yet to Come" by the German band Accept has an incredible effect on me. The song instantly uplifts my spirit. Of course, remembering to listen is key, as some foul moods are so envious that they strive to engulf you, closing off any path of escape. You can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube. Last week, it rained and a magnificent rainbow appeared in the sky. In that moment, it dawned on me to listen to that song while watching the rainbow, and as I did, it felt as though the universe had reached out to give me a warm hug. I try not to listen to the song often because I am secretly scared that too much listening will diminish its ability to heal me. I am sure that this kind of thinking is not unique to me: when you listen to a song too much, it loses its ability to bring you pleasure. The song itself hasn’t changed, but you have become hardened to its effects. So I try my very best to not lose the capacity to feel awe. I think one of my worst fear in life is to walk around feeling jaded. Another interesting thing is that the song might not have the same effect on you as it does on me. Perhaps you’ll feel it more intensely than I do, or you’d be meh, it doesn’t do anything. I’m generally not a fan of lyrics, because I don’t wanna understand music but rather just feel it. So I am more interested in the way it’s composed, how everything fits or doesn’t fit together. But there was something about the song that made me pay attention to the lyrics the first time I heard it. I suppose in life you’re constantly on the lookout for things that will help make life more enjoyable. It’s the chorus that really got me. “When it rains I look for rainbows, when it’s dark I look for stars, call me a dreamer, call me naïve, I will always say the best is yet to come.” As I was listening, my mind filled up with images of people who had exemplified the unyielding spirit that is an integral part of our shared human legacy. It’s a kind of a stand straight, don’t slouch moment. One is reminded of the protagonist who just doesn't give up no matter how many blows they receive.
I can be quite pessimistic at times. Sometimes, I wonder if I am a pessimist with an optimistic facade or if it's the opposite. There are moments when I am one of the most optimistic individuals I know, yet there are also instances when no one can rescue me from the depths of pessimism when I plunge into it. I have always lowkey held the belief that people who maintain constant optimism are somewhat naïve. So when the singer belted out, "call me naïve," it felt like the dude was reading my thoughts. But, through my experience of over three decades of existing, I have come to realize that it is the optimists who are capable of eating the impossible for breakfast. In the past, I used to label myself as a realist, but now I find that I’m a bit more hesitant to do so because I don’t think it’s even possible to be a true realist. We are continuously perceiving the world through our senses, which do not always accurately reflect external reality. Even when everything in our lives may be going quite well, we might perceive it as falling apart, and vice versa. I don't believe our senses can provide us with an accurate assessment of what is occurring in the external world, let alone our inner world. We can only obtain rough approximations. If anything, I think realism tends to lean more towards pessimism. If you were able to truly perceive the world as it is, you might find yourself reluctant to engage with it. Within its vastness, there exists both profound joy and immense pain. Baffling events unfold that defy any logical explanation. Good-hearted individuals sometimes depart prematurely, while the wicked seem to live forever. The pessimist on the other hand can hardly see or envisage the possibility of something advantageous happening to them. A pessimistic perspective can often be shaped by past traumas or repeated disappointments in pursuing one's desires. Having experienced multiple failures, pessimists often discourage themselves from making further attempts, as they question the usefulness of trying. In their eyes, the outcome will inevitably be failure. Life, for a pessimist, is marked by resistance. Conversely, optimists perceive everything as aligned in their favor, even when that may not necessarily be the case. [To be continued … ]
Thanks for reading. If there's anything you'd like to chat about, or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. :)