Cheryl Wright

Melancholy

“Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad.” – Victor Hugo

M is for Melancholy

Have you ever reflected on a certain moment from your past and felt overwhelmed with both happiness and sadness? This complex feeling of being a bit depressed (due to longing for that certain moment) and an awareness of being somewhat happy (since you are glad you were able to enjoy such a moment) has you feeling melancholy. Although melancholy has a component of sadness it is different from sadness. Feeling melancholy involves feeling sorrow but with a twist of joy. Sadness implies grief and hopelessness. There are many things that can bring about the emotional state of being melancholy. Remembering old flames, missing those who have died, thinking about people from our past, looking at old photos, listening to a certain song can all bring forth a melancholy moment. I know for me certain smells, such as lilacs (that remind me of my childhood home) can bring about this bittersweet emotion.

What brings out the melancholy in you?

Synonym of melancholy – somber
Antonym of melancholy – happy

Other Blogging From A-to-Z Challenge Posts 2014 (Emotions)
Blogging from A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal 2014

A is for Anger
B is for Bliss
C is for Compassion
D is for Deceit
E is for Envy
F is for Fear
G is for Grief
H is for Hurt
I is for Insecurity
J is for Jilted
K is for Kindness
L is for Love and Loss (of a pet)
M is for Melancholy
N is for Nervousness
O is for Optimism
P is for Pride
Q is for Quizzical
R is for Resentment
S is for Sadness
T is for Thankfulness
U is for Unfeeling
V is for Victimization (emotional)
W is for Worry
X is for XOXO
Y is for Yearning
Z is for Zeal


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Published by Cheryl Wright

Also known as Ms57Classic I came into this world on a summer morning on July 22, 1957. Newborn babies usually do not cry real tears at birth because their tear ducts have not formed yet. But I cried real tears! I have been through many things in my life and have dealt with a multitude of situations and emotions. I have been married and divorced twice. I am an ex-navy wife. I am a mom, a Grammie of 8 (so far), a sister, an aunt, and a friend of longevity. I have a son and a son-in-law in the US Navy and am very proud of their job decision and their accomplishments. My job as a mother is FOREVER. It will not stop when a child of mine reaches the age of 18! I have always been well liked, but not liked by all. I can stretch a dollar like it’s a rubber band. I like the person I am. I graduated from a writing school. I am in the process of writing a book. I graduated from University of Phoenix at the age of 56 with an associate’s degree in Art. I am disabled, having a multitude of health issues. I had a corneal transplant and since then have become an advocate for organ and tissue donation. One of my hobbies is finding those who share the exact birthday as me – July 22, 1957. There is much more ABOUT ME but I guess you will have to follow my blog if you’d like to find these things out : )

46 comments

  1. It’s songs for me! Some songs I listen to because I know they’ll remind me of something and make me cry…

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  3. Just discovered you through the joys of A to Z. Thanks for popping by my blog. Your L is very touching to me (if you get a chance, my D is on a similar subject).

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    • This is my first A to Z Challenge. I’ve managed to keep up with posting everyday but replying to comments is another thing…I am so far behind! Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog. I will definitely be checking out your D post.

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      • Definitely a tough month, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge. It’s hard to be fresh for every day. I wrote the first five days back in late March, and tried to keep ahead by a few days. However it is now Sunday and I’ve nothing for the final three yet!

        Reply

  4. Hi, Cheryl. Good word choice for today! I’m feeling melancholy about my Japanese teacher. I finally got to take lessons from a native Japanese, but then she had a chance to move to New York and be part of the jazz scene there. I’m happy for her happiness, but I miss her a lot.

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    • It’s sad when the people we like to have in our lives move on….but as you said there is happiness in having the opportunity to take lessons from her. Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.

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  5. Great theme, and thanks for visiting my A to Z! Love your quote from Victor Hugo! Here’s another, from French poet Anatole France: « Tous les changements, même les plus souhaités, ont leur mélancolie. » (“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy”) For me, it’s old books, papers, concert programs, the sort of things I come across when doing my “spring” cleaning. They make me stop that task and I end up sitting on the floor looking and them and being…melancholy!

    jetgirlcos visiting via Forty, c’est Fantastique

    Reply

    • Thank you for sharing the quote by Anatole France. I enjoy quotes. Anything nostalgic can bring up melancholy feelings. Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog.

      Reply

  6. Lovely post Cheryl thank you. It’s a deep question .. I think I’m inclined genetically to melancholia from my Norwegian heritage (paternal grandmother). Maybe it’s the ability to hold both happiness and sadness at the same time? All of what you say in your post is real and true.
    Garden of Eden Blog

    Reply

  7. I feel it every day. And, now that I’ve said that, I’m faced with the question of if it’s a good thing or not. Why should I be sad about things everyday, even if with the sadness comes joy? This is something I need to look into. lol.

    Reply

    • I’ve been feeling a bit melancholy every day since my mom died. So maybe this emotion comes with grief. Not sure why you’ve been experience it everyday but maybe it comes from something that makes you feel more sad than happy? Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog post.

      Reply

  8. I looked through some old photo albums recently for pics of my late dog. I thought I’d feel melancholy, but I mostly felt gratitude. I went through some tough times but God made them all beautiful somehow. Looking at those pictures made me realize that no matter how bad we think things are, there’s a much bigger picture and it’s beautiful.

    Reply

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