There are days when you just don’t want to get out of bed. Days when you feel that everything is meaningless. That no matter how hard you work, life will sometimes come and bite you where it hurts! You wonder if what’s if there’s any purpose to living. Do you really want to be alive?
Or is it only me who feels like Sisyphus?
In case you don’t remember him, he’s the guy who as a punishment for his sins was made to forever roll a massive boulder to the top of a steep hill. But his efforts were always in vain, for whenever Sisyphus neared the top, the rock would roll right back down again. Sisyphus was thus forced to start his labor all over again. – Greek Myth
I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable…but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.
Agatha Christie

I think Agatha Christie got it. The feeling of being acutely miserable. But she also realized, like I do, that being alive is a gift. A grand thing, she called it. And I agree. There’s nothing about life – joy, pain, laughter, tears, loving, being hurt, trusting and having your heart broken – that is not meaningful.
Even the mundane is often beautiful in hindsight! Yes, get yourself into a real stressful situation – be very ill, or have a loved one at death’s door, have work coming out of your ears – and you’ll long for the daily routine!
In case you’re wondering why I’m publishing this on Wednesday evening, it’s because we had another of those Sisyphus moments – or hours. A short, yet intense, thunderstorm blew out the electric transformer in our housing colony. We went for 28 hours without power. I’ll spare you the gory details. Suffice to say, we’re still in recovery mode. But, believe me, it’s grand to be alive! 🙂
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Hello Corinne. I found your blog through a comment on Jennifer’s Unfold and Begin blog. I was drawn in by the Agatha Christie quote. That is precisely how I feel, but said more eloquently than I could hope to. I’m happy you have your power back. Nothing like a black-out to make you realize how much you rely on electricity.
I loved this post! I often have days like that…days when it is crucial to remember that life is a gift and being alive is a glorious feeling.
I think most of us face those days of deep dark despair. But remembering that life is still beautiful, despite the darkness, that’s the key, isn’t it? I mean, we shouldn’t lose sight of that….
Yikes! How horrible to lose power for so long. 🙁 I think most of us have had those Sisyphus moments. Agatha Christie’s quote is so true along with a few old adages: “Things could be worse”, “It’s only temporary”, and my favourite: “Whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”. Tomorrow is a new day. ☺
Glad to know you’re safe and that things are better now . I’ve been having similar ‘moments’ over the last couple of years, Corinne, and I must say it is tough going through them, but then, the fog always lifts and the sun eventually shines and like you and Dame Agatha, I too feel what a privilege and a joy it is to wake up to another morning and be alive. Blessed, aren’t we?!
I can imagine and we all have such moments where being alive is the bigger thing. With things that happened earlier this year, I feel that every breath we take is a blessing. How many of us get the gift? There are so many who are struggling for that single one.
A thoughtful post, Corinne and sorry I posted for Monday Musings but couldn’t link up!
Yes, situations like that do give you insights and a better perspective, Parul. Thank you for stopping by.
I’m going to find your post and link it! 😉
You are sweet! I remember asking you and then how my current state has been – write and forget to promote. #facepalm
Hey Corinne what a thought to explore and that greek myth analogy is pretty Hard! Life can seem and does seem to be all about struggles and pain – it gets pretty disheartening. I am happy to see you taking in your stride and putting up such a strong post about it too – I hope more people read it as this is a strain we all go through in our lives. Not losing hope is the trick! Hugs
Learning to harness that pain is the trick, isn’t it, Shalz? I’m constantly learning. Thank you.