[graciegirl]

The post about having to experience sorrow in order to fully appreciate joy really is so true.

There are so many of us, I would say most of us seniors,who have had terrible, awful, overwhelming sorrow in our lives and some more than once.

When that happens, and time passes enough to heal the worst of it, we realize that we have an option to look for good times and to try to find joy and laughter again and when we do find it we realize that our emotional health is restored, although we won't forget the sad and bad things that happened.

Since we have felt pain and sadness, our compassion for others and our understanding of others has increased.

We realize that a long life is not granted to all and that we need to use the life we have to live sweetly and find as much joy and laughter as we can. Each day we must give ourselves the right to be happy and to spread happiness to others if we can. Life is not a dress rehearsal.