Wow! (I know other users started their comment this way but it's just fitting!) what a ride!
I'd started to believe I was reading about a man, through his shows on stage brought moments of joy, laughter and happiness to his audience, was preparing for his final act. But he was actually looking down on his funeral, I think? My heart breaks for his widow.
The beauty of it was the delight that comes from performing regardless of his personal inner battles.
I liked how you captured the philosophy of happiness —True happiness...is about accepting our humanity with all its ups and downs, enjoying the positive emotions, and harnessing painful feelings to reach our full potential.
Sadly, it's a true life story. This is deep. He asked, "...but was I helping to make those people truly happy?" Touching, but I'd like to add that the decision (yes it's one) to be happy is up to each us.
Regardless of however good a comedian maybe, if a person chooses to stay sad and depressed, there's nothing anyone can do about. To ask such a question is to overwhelm oneself with a burden that is not ours.
You are a fantastic writer, @samsmith1971! I enjoyed reading this piece. It's a winner for me! 😄 Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to read my submission🙏This, "to be happy is up to each us" , is 💯% true. Happiness and the state of being happy is transient and impacted by everything that life has to throw at us. We can only truly be happy if, despite the rollercoaster of life, we find something more deep and meaningful to hold on to that brings enduring joy. We need to learn "to walk in between the raindrops" as Jason Wade of Lifehouse fame sings. Of course, the story is a fictionalised imagining of a potential ending to his time on Earth and just one variant/perspective of what could have happened after his death. You are spot-on that this was his funeral. The piece about his last words to his wife is in fact true and taken from an article about his son's tributes to him on what would have been his 70th birthday this year. !PIZZA