The Path of Suffering

The path of suffering:

of suffering- and there are many promises to escape, offering a bypass through this certainty of life. Many paths have this as their stated goal, some more immediate, and others in a life to come, or a well earned realm free of earthly cares. But this is about the path of suffering. It’s the only truth I’m able to write about with any real conviction.

life is the path of suffering.

not always, and sometimes not even often — there have been long stretches of peace, contentment, and happiness in my life. I’ve been blessed. Yet throughout suffering was always near, for me a presence of bleak depression that asked to be drowned out by drugs and alcohol, and too often I gave into this request. Twenty years of sobriety later and the voice has grown softer, asking for less, no real expectation of receiving. But still persistent. And the depression remains, perhaps less intense, an easier visit now and then. But still present.

of course too there is always the tragic events of life and I won’t offer my list of here — they are similar to yours, everyone’s. They are an inescapable aspect of life. They cause suffering through loss, pain, and drastic changes. They’re unexpected, crashing existence without notice. Even a life blessed will know these events all too well. It’s just how life happens.