Dear Modern Philosopher,
What do you do when the dark clouds won’t go away?
Drowning in Darkness
Dear Drowning,
As you know, I have often been trailed by the dark clouds, but I always manage to give them the slip. It takes patience, and some work on your part, but I assure you the sunshine will eventually return.
I advise you to find a very large umbrella. This is, of course, a metaphorical umbrella, so you can make it as large as you need it to be.
Use that umbrella to shield you from the dark clouds. I know it won’t make things any brighter, but not being able to see those menacing harbingers of ill will constantly hovering overhead will definitely raise your spirits.
I’m writing this reply under the shade of the world’s largest metaphorical umbrella. Not only has it been a difficult week for me, but today is also the birthday of The Girl Who Left Me Behind. The dark clouds have been following me around literally and figuratively…I got soaked on my morning run when the actual dark clouds dumped rain on me.
As always, I survived. While my heart might be the most fragile object known to man, I have developed a tough outer shell over the years. A little water isn’t going to melt me, and the perpetual presence of the dark clouds is not going to get me down.
My umbrella is made up mostly of writing…I’ve thrown myself fully into that this weekend…but other parts involve puttering around the house working on a project to make The House on the Hill warmer for the Winter. I’ve also spent time in the kitchen whipping up a giant pot of chili, that I’m looking forward to enjoying all week. And then there’s the kitties, who make me smile and love to cuddle under the umbrella with me.
So just find a big umbrella to use until the sky clears. It always works for me.
I like to tell myself it’s always darkest before that amazing thing happens to light up your life so brightly that you need to wear sunglasses at night.
Hang in there. I promise you’ll need sunglasses soon.
Austin
The Return of the Modern Philosopher 
The warm sunshine of a lazy Sunday…… 😛
I wish we had that here…
Build a weather hijack machine. 😀
Want to help me? I’m not good with tools. 🙂
For a moment, I thought it was a reply to one of my blogs. I am happy with umbrella otherwise I would not be able to mingle w people and carry out an ordinary life so they think.
🙂
I like your positive energy, even if it might be a little forced. I hope the skies clear for you soon.
Forced? Ha! 🙂
I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I promise. Forced might not be the word I wanted. I know so few words..lol
🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
Aha! You, too, live under the rainbow umbrella of writing. 🙂
Well, I hide out under there is more like it. 🙂
Who knows? Maybe you’ll be able to quit your day job to write jokes and screenplays for a living. 🙂
I hope that happens soon.
I think you need the clouds. They allow you to understand the depths, so when the sun comes out again, the sunshine is even more beautiful. Hang in there.
Hmmm…interesting theory. I’ll have to form some Deep Thoughts on that one. 🙂
Thank you for this…it was a nice needed little ray of sun.
Glad I can be of help. Sorry to hear sunshine is needed…
The best thing about an umbrella is that sometimes just having it ready can prevent the rain.
So true, my friend. So true…
Austin. Though love time. First. When it’s sunny you can go blind. Who wants that? Everything in high contrast, that gets old and unsettling to look at. Second. It’s not black is it? There is still light. You can see the nuances. The shades of grey. Not to be mistaken with the horrible book series. Everything is softer.
Finally, I know you are probably getting sick of me saying this, but try meditation. It has really changed my life and how I experience my emotions. Listen to a few of Jeff Kober’s lectures if you get time: http://jeffkobermeditation.com/lectures/ You may still decide it’s not for you, but then again who knows. It will have cost you nothing but a little quiet time.
I was just answering a reader’s question, Rowan. I wasn’t really worried about me. Thanks for the ideas, though. I appreciate it. 🙂
Well that’s good. You’ve been talking about being down lately though and I just wanted to point out, maybe not in the best way, that that can be ok, even good. It is all part of this life experience and we all just go through it, learn from it, and become who we become from it.
I know, Rowan. Just giving you a hard time and trying to play it cool. 🙂
Alright. Go pet a cat or something.
Luna is curled up here next to me, so I’m already on that one… 😉
Yes, Austin, bit metaphorical umbrellas can protect us from so much. Great advice, sir. Once in a while, I use a Columbia jacket in the real world, with a ballcap under the hood. 🙂
I’ve come to realize that the rain won’t melt me…
Kitties. Get a kitty. Or a puppy. Their undying love and devotion will make you see the world with different eyes. PS…Chicks and dudes love people with pets….
I just adopted my two kitties last month!