 "Life is difficult." - M. Scott Peck (or was it Buddha?)
I was flipping through my music library when I happened upon this. I thought I'd share it. The sheer violence of his joy makes this song one of my favorites. I don't know, or care, if the Hebrew is correct, but I've pulled the relevant extracts from it.
The general theme of the song is simple: Our lives suck. They could be better. Bad stuff happens. All the time! It's normal. Now, something good has happened: we rejoice together, we hope the same good fortune comes upon us. It's an opportunity to party! But if it doesn't, then hey, we'll be happy anyways. Joy is good. We want more excuses to be joyful.
Bad stuff is normal. Some stuff is worse than other stuff. Why should I care? Spend time on the good.
Fiddler on the Roof - To Life
Life has a way of confusing us,
Blessing and bruising us,
Drink la kayim, to life!
God would like us to be joyful,
even when our hearts lie panting on the floor.
How much more can we be joyful,
when there's really something to be joyful for?
May all your futures be pleasant ones,
Not like our present ones,
Drink la kayim, to life!
Be happy, be healthy, long life!
And if our good fortune never comes,
Here's to whatever comes,
Drink la kayim, to life!
P.S. I was going to remark that Grief is not a level of consciousness, but apparently it is. My mistake.
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