About this quote

Sadness is a natural human emotion that does not have to cancel out your capacity for joy. You can feel the weight of a difficult day and still appreciate a warm cup of coffee or a quick joke. Why do we think we must be entirely one thing or the other? Real emotional resilience means letting these opposite feelings sit in the same room together. You do not need to cure your grief before you allow yourself to smile again.

When to use it

• When you are grieving the loss of a family pet but find yourself laughing at an old video of their goofy antics. You tell your sibling this to explain that feeling both emotions at once is completely normal.
• After a brutal day of layoffs at the office, you and a coworker share a slice of cake in the breakroom. You use these words to acknowledge that you can still find a moment of peace amidst the career anxiety.
• During a difficult divorce, a mother tells her daughter this to remind her that they can still enjoy their Friday movie nights even while their family dynamic is shifting.