Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries
...except when it's not. Happiness comes so easily to some, but eludes others as life and circumstance pile on. Years ago, I had two colleagues, one so dispassionate as to be morose, the other almost continually upbeat and on a natural, rather than drug induced, high. Circumstance had much to do with their emotional states. Emilia was born in a resettlement camp and came to this country when she was twelve. She had a twin, whose personality displayed the same dour tendencies as her own, so I suspect a genetic component also contributed to her negative attitude and aloof behavior. Emilia was bright and attractive, but so unpleasant some thought her behavior was a put on. It was not. Paul, on the other hand, was Midwestern born and bred, and as relaxed and affable as the large clan from which he came. We used to joke that he was born enlightened, though I must admit I once questioned if anyone that happy could possibly have teenagers in the house. He did, and despite an occasional bout of teenage angst, they were as upbeat and steady as their father. Lunch was a bipolar experience when Paul and Emilia were both at the table. Happiness isn't always contagious. Can it be learned?
