You Can't Have One Without The Other

Yesterday my son asked to use the car for a date with his girlfriend. Dinner and a movie.  He just got his intermediate license a few days ago, which allows him to drive without a licensed driver in the car. Since then he has driven to my dad's house and a couple other spots close by. So this would be his first real experience out on his own.

I was paralyzed with fear. 

A friend of mine lost her niece in a terrible crash recently. And I kept thinking of other crashes involving teens. Having your child sick or hurt, or God forbid, losing your child, has got to be some of the worst pain I can imagine. I can hardly stand to think about it. 

This leads me to the real point of this entry. Thinking about this made me realize something. The worst heartaches we have in this life can only exist because of the happiest moments in our lives. Grieving over the loss of a loved one doesn't occur without first experiencing love and joy with that person. Having your heart broken by a lover is the same. It wouldn't hurt so bad if it hadn't once felt so wonderful. Losing a high level job wouldn't seem so devastating if you hadn't first enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment and the payoff of hard work. An animal who is caged, resents it more if he once experienced freedom. You can rarely have sorrow without first having happiness. 

I guess we could put ourselves in a bubble to avoid this sorrow in the first place. Don't love or feel and you don't get hurt. Don't care for a pet because it won't live long. Don't make friends because they sometimes disappoint you. Distance yourself emotionally from your parents so you won't witness them grow old and sick. Don't hold another human being in your arms because one day they may leave you. Don't take chances, don't have adventure.  

Safer, but what kind of existence would that be?