<< Una volta un re fece una festa e c’erano le principesse più belle del regno. Basta, un soldato che faceva la guardia vide passare la figlia del re. Era la più bella di tutte e se ne innamorò subito ma… ma che poteva fare un povero soldato a paragone con la figlia del re! Basta, finalmente un giorno riuscì a incontrarla e ci disse che non poteva più vivere senza di lei. E la principessa fu accussì impressionata del suo forte sentimento che ci disse al soldato: “Se saprai aspettare cento giorni e cento notti sotto il mio balcone, alla fine, io sarò tua.” Minchia! Subito il soldato se ne andò là e aspettò un giorno, due giorni e dieci e poi venti! E ogni sera la principessa controllava dalla finestra ma quello non si muoveva mai! Con la pioggia, con il vento, con la neve era sempre là. Gli uccelli ci cacavano in testa e le api se lo mangiavano vivo ma lui non si muoveva. Dopo novanta notti era diventato tutto secco, bianco e ci scendevano le lacrime dagli occhi e non poteva trattenerle, ché non aveva più la forza manco per dormire… mentre la principessa sempre che lo guardava, e… arrivati alla novantanovesima notte il soldato si alzò, si prese la sedia e se ne andò via. >>
We all feel sad sometimes. Sadness is a normal emotion that can make life more interesting. Much art and poetry is inspired by sadness and melancholy. Sadness almost always accompanies loss. When we say goodbye to a loved one we usually feel sad. The sadness is even deeper if a close relationship has ended or a loved one has died.
Sadness also helps us appreciate happiness. When our mood eventually changes from sadness toward happiness the sense of contrast adds to the enjoyment of the mood.
Here are some ways to experience normal sadness in a healthy way and to allow this emotion to enrich your life:
Allow yourself to be sad. Denying such feelings may force them underground, where they can do more damage with time. Cry if you feel like it. Notice if you feel relief after the tears stop.
If you are feeling sad, plan a sadness day. Plan a day or evening just to be alone, listen to melancholy music, and to observe your thoughts and feelings. Planning time to be unhappy can be actually feel good. It can help you ultimately move into a more happy mood.
Think about the context of the sad feelings. Are they related to a loss or an unhappy event? It’s usually not as simple as discovering the “cause” of the sadness, but it may be possible to understand factors involved.
Sadness can result from a change that you didn’t expect, or it can signal the need for a change in your life. Change is usually stressful, but it is necessary for growth.
Know when sadness turns into depression. Get help if this happens rather than getting stuck in it.
Get help if you experience more than a couple of the following symptoms of depression:
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
