“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something.

[jtuck004]

“The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting. Learning is the only thing for you. Look what a lot of things there are to learn.”
― T.H. White, The Once and Future King

Perhaps it will help...

[merrily]

1. I am thrilled when I learn something new. However, my sure cure for sadness is gratitude.

It seems I cannot feel sad about a circumstance after I think of something about that circumstance for which to feel grateful.

[niyad]

2. in the movie, "pollyanna", it is called "the glad game". makes a lot of sense.

(not an exact quote, but idea is there): "one time, in the missionary box, we got a pair of crutches".

"Crutches!!?? what is there to be glad about that?"

"That we didn't need them". . .

[merrily]

4. Thanks. I've not seen that film.

[burrowowl]

6. Read the book

it is beautiful!

[niyad]

7. it's a disney film from the early 60's. some very interesting messages in it.

[alterfurz]

3. so very true!

[merrily]

5. Awww! Thank you for that. I've never thought of gratitude as prayer or its

(sometimes) secular cousin, meditation. Now that you mention it, though, I can see it.

Then again, I view spring and fall cleaning as meditation, so no one should go by me!