Persian fables tell the story of a king who wanted a way to maintain himself aware at all times of the ever changing human condition so he had a ring engraved with the words
"This too shall pass"
It's meant as a reality check to give one strength when things are bad but also to keep one aware that the joyful moment will pass.
I could be viewed as an optimist and sometimes that feels like a defect, like I constantly need to wake up to actual reality, smell the ashes and stop dreaming of better times and better places.
I like to view this optimism as a perpetual way of setting goals in life, even if they are too high. I much rather achieve half of a way too big of a target than give up trying to better myself and my surroundings. Is that naive?
And by the argument that everything passes anyway, why even bother?
We need the contrast, the opposites, the bitter and the sweet. We need accept both sides and respect them equally.
