Salt and sugar look a lot alike

Have you ever noticed how often cooks put a little sugar in spicy things (Salted Caramel anyone?) or a little salt in sweet things (like chocolate chip cookies)? Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed you want to indulge in both at the same time?

Thinkers far wiser than I have noted that the same is true of happiness and sadness; joy and grief. 

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, 

and the word happy would lose its meaning 

if it were not balanced by sadness 

 CG Jung. 

I've experienced the truth in these words. Contrasts seem to wake me up and make me pay attention.  Being oblivious to happiness eventually becomes routine, boring and even sad!  Being oblivious to sadness leads to poor self care and dangerous choices.  

But I can get irritate quickly when a happy time gets dark.

This evening Dear Husband and I went out for dinner, then browsed our nearest bookstore, and had some coffee.  

But then we realized the car might be running on fumes and we needed to get gas.

We passed at least three dark, closed gas stations. We couldn't find one that was open.  We worried that our "cruising range" was approaching 0 miles.  We ended up in an unfamiliar, poorly lit, congested neighborhood that has a bad reputation.

Finally, we found a crowded, open station. 

When we asked whether that neighborhood was always dark and the stations always closed, the attendant said there had been a gas main explosion and that gas had been shut off to at least three communties. 

Turns out the explosions and subsequent fires numbered in the 80's.

I realized I was happy our house was well out of range.

Jung had a few more words about happiness and darkness.  He offers a lesson on regaining balance:
 

  It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity. 

I don't know about you, but I still need practice with that part.  For now I'll be grateful and of good cheer that we have a full tank of gas, we had a mini adventure even though our 20 minute ride home took almost an hour.

I'm going to practice for practicing patience and equanimity.  I will also remind myself that even in the darkest night, there are pinpoints of starlight, even when fog or my nearsightedness prevent me from seeing them.

The word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. Carl Jung
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/carl_jung

The word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. Carl Jung
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/carl_jung

The word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. Carl Jung
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/carl_jung

The word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. Carl Jung
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/carl_jung