All Sides of the Moon
A look at change, death, and positive realism
© 2009 Meryl Runion
Positive Realism
I’m wary of positive thinking that papers over poison with sugar-coated thoughts. I’m a huge advocate of positive realism which appreciates life on its own terms instead of going to war with or trying to control reality. Positive realism knows the glass is half-empty AND half-full. Positive realism it seeks out new sources of water when needed.
I wrote and later revised a song about my late husband’s passing that illustrates how different views of the same reality have completely different impact. It evolved from a glass-half-empty song to a glass-half-full song. It eventually developed into the appreciation of both.
The original chorus went like this:
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The Dark Side of the Moon There’s an end to each beginning. There’s a night for every day. There’s a winter for the summer when the world is cold and gray. There’s a close for every opening. There’s a dark side to the moon… But I never thought the ending would come for us so soon. |
Years later when my heart had healed some, I realized that if there’s an end to each beginning, the opposite is also true. Here’s my revised chorus:
| The Bright Side of the Moon There’s a beginning for each ending. There’s a day for every night. There’s a summer for the winter when the world is clear and bright. There’s an opening for each closing. There’s a bright side to the moon. And when you’re caught in darkness, know the sun will follow soon. |
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Amazing, isn’t it? Two perspectives describe the same reality. Yet the emotional impact of each is dramatically different. The second version is far more positive and uplifting – but I couldn’t begin to write it until after some of my own darkness lifted.
Many of us complain that we signed up for the bright side, not the dark side of being alive. Yet realistically, we can’t experience one without the other. However, it’s a lot easier to make it through dark times when we remember the sun and know it’s coming back. Here’s my latest version of the song – versus, bridges, choruses and a tag.
All Sides of the Moon
Verse 1:
It’s not by choice you’re leaving me. I know it’s true.
I still can’t believe this thing that’s happening to you.
Everyday we watch our castles crumble into sand.
Fear is raging in your soul. You know I understand,Bridge 1:
But I’m still human. I get frightened.
Sometimes when you need me I can’t set aside my pain.
I get angry. I feel so hopeless.
I wish, I wish, I really wish our lives would stay the same.Chorus 1:
There’s an end to each beginning. There’s a night for every day.
There’s a winter for the summer when the world is cold and gray.
There’s a close for every opening. There’s a dark side to the moon…
But I never thought the ending would come for us so soon.Transitional music
Verse 2:
So many years have come and gone since we said goodbye.
First I learned to walk alone. Then I learned to fly.
Then I found my open heart was just beneath my pain.
Then I found the courage and the will to love again.Bridge 2:
But I’m still human. I still get frightened.
And every time I do I find the grace to face the night.
And when I miss you I feel your sweetness.
The lessons learned from losing you are now my guiding light.Chorus 2:
There’s a beginning for each ending. There’s a day for every night.
There’s a summer for the winter when the world is clear and bright.
There’s an opening for each closing. There’s a bright side to the moon.
And when we’re caught in darkness, we know the sun will follow soon.Tag:
Thank you for the years we loved. And all sides of the moon.©Meryl Runion 2009
Dedicated to Michael Kent Runion, 1950-1986
The wisdom of cycles
No one knows how long our darker days will last, but once we’ve been through enough of life’s cycles, it’s easier to remember the sun will rise again. How we make it through each dark night depends very much on how well we remember and trust those cycles.
I hope All Sides of the Moon will help you and those you love make it though your inevitable dark days. If you are in dark days today, may the remembrance and vision of the sun get you through.
FYI, I’ve been joyfully remarried for the last twelve years, and I really am grateful for all sides of the moon, although I do have to remind myself of that at times.
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Meryl Runion and Speak Strong (SpeakStrong) provides Power Phrases (PowerPhrases) and other tools to help you improve communication skills at work and at home.
She is the author of the books Speak Strong, PowerPhrases!, How to Use PowerPhrases, Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors and How to Say It: Performance Reviews. She can be reached at 719-684-2633 or by email: