"The bittersweet is...an authentic and elevating response to the problem
of being alive in a deeply flawed yet stubbornly beautiful world. Most
of all, bittersweetness shows us how to respond to pain: by
acknowledging it, and attempting to turn it into art, the way the
musicians do, or healing, or innovation, or anything else that nourishes
the soul. If we don't transform our sorrows and longings, we can end up
inflicting them on others via abuse, domination, neglect. But if we
realize that all humans know -- or will know -- loss and suffering, we
can turn toward each other." Best-selling author Susan Cain's new book
is titled, "Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole." Maria
Popova explores some of its themes here.
