The Inclination to Tragedy or Comedy

One can write the stories of one’s life two ways: turn the script into a tragedy or into a comedy. There are some limitations to that of course: death, serious illness or injury are hard to turn into a comedy. At least at the initial shock.

I will never forget the book by Paul Brickhill Reach For the Sky. It is a story about a RAF pilot, who lost both of his legs, but made it back to flying a plane. The novel is full of comic remarks and never does the pilot Douglas Bader feel sorry for himself. When I start feeling sorry for myself, I often remember this book and it always has a good effect on me. The story is full of optimism, courage and jokes.

Humor is not only a tool to keep your spirits up. Imagine one of your soles on your mountain boots falling off during ascending a mountain. If you panic and make a tragedy out of it, your mind will freeze and you will not be able to think creatively and find a solution. It happened to me last autumn. My husband helped me laugh it off. That was how my mind got very creative and I thought of a solution. I took a string from my pants, for they were held up by a rubber band anyway, and used it to tie the sole. It was a temporary solution close to the summit, where I got duct tape in the mountain hut and fixed the sole more firmly. It held till we reached our car.

I wish I could have laughed the serious tragedies in my life off like that. But no – I am more of a pessimist and a panicking type. The first episode of mental illness evoked only fear and desperation in me and so did the other two (schizoaffective disorder bipolar type). Luckily, at the last one, I already had my husband by my side and he is a lot like Douglas Bader – full of optimism, courage and jokes.

I would like to read your stories! How do you respond to life challenge?

Take care,

Helena Smole, author of:

– a fantasy novel with romance Vivvy and Izzy the Dwarf: A series about relationships

– Balancing the Beast, a book offering a bright view of schizoaffective disorder ˗ bipolar or manic-depressive type