Legal Commentary

Maybe Tomorrow

By Kevin Funnell

In one sense, succumbing to depression is an act of laziness. It's easier to wallow, wrapped in the warm fog of comfort that some take in their unhappiness, than it is to exercise the act of will it often takes to become happy. All you need do is turn on the television set or read the newspaper and you understand how much force must be marshaled behind that act of will to propel it through the natural inclination (for some of us) to feel that the world around us is filled to the brim with turds, of which we may count ourselves as proud charter members. One calls to mind the immortal words of Al Pacino as Lt. Col. (Ret.) Frank Slade in the movie Scent of a Woman: "If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a FLAMETHROWER to this place"

Yes, it's much easier to say to hell with it, hunker down with a good book and a snifter (or two, or three) of Hennesy XO, load the AR-15 with a 100-round banana clip, and wait for the Hajis to storm the gates and pour through the portals, providing you with the opportunity to at least make a grand finale by sending more than a handful of them to their 72 virgins before they gun you down in a frenzy of "Allahu Akbars."

Every time I feel that way, though, I remember that the psychiatrist and existential philosopher Viktor Frankl advised us that it up to us to decide what we will make of the next minute, hour, and day. We can't change the circumstances in which we find ourselves, only our response to those circumstances. By an act of will, a man or woman can change that response from negation to affirmation and, thereby, give meaning to his or her life.

After I remember that sage advice, I usually think, "What did that guy know, anyway," and then go grab a beer. It's only when I come back to an even more profound source of ultimate knowledge about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that I'm able to turn that frown upside down and become as maniacally happy as Kelly Ripa on poppers.

The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters.---Genghis Khan

Staring tomorrow morning, I'm going to hop on the happiness train and ride it straight through to the promised land. Yeah, maybe tomorrow I'll do just that.

So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home
So maybe tomorrow
I'll find my way home

Full post as published by Counseling Kevin on August 16, 2010 (boomark / email).