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Why l write about darkness

 Why I Write About Darkness—and Choose to See the Light


The other day, someone really close to me gave me a piece of honest feedback. He said, “Why are you always writing about suffering, about pain and war and death? Can’t you write something positive for a change?”


At first, I smiled. Then I thought about it.


He was right, in a way. Lately, the themes I’ve been drawn to—whether it’s loss, struggle, or the heaviness of the world—have all come from a certain place inside me. Not a dark place exactly, but a sensitive one. Because truthfully, there have been events happening around me. Things that have touched me deeply, even if I haven’t always talked about them openly. So I wrote about what I was feeling. I didn’t pick those topics because I wanted to sound heavy or dark—I chose them because they were real to me.


But his question stayed with me. Why not write something positive?


So today, I’m writing about happiness.


What is happiness, really? Why are we always looking for it—as if it’s somewhere outside of us, hiding in a place or a person or a future we haven’t reached yet? And when we do find it, do we just hold it for ourselves? Or do we pass it on—to our families, our friends, even strangers?


I’ve come to realize one thing: I can only share happiness if I actually feel it within me. And yes, I do. I may be sensitive, I may feel things deeply, but I’m comfortable in my skin. I know who I am. And I love what I have. I have strong relationships, a sense of peace, and a heart that still feels—maybe a little too much sometimes.


But you know what? That’s not a flaw. That’s a gift.


When I feel joy, I feel it with all of me. And when I feel sadness or empathy, it’s the same. That’s just how I am. I don’t want to push that away or pretend to be someone I’m not. I’ve learned that it’s okay to write about hurt—as long as I don’t forget to write about healing too.


Because here’s the thing: we can only understand light when we’ve spent a little time in the dark. Writing about pain doesn’t mean I live in it. It just means I’m trying to understand it. And maybe, through that process, I can understand happiness better too.


So yes, this post is a little different. It’s still honest. Still me. But it’s also a reminder—to myself, and maybe to anyone reading this—that light exists. That we’re allowed to talk about both.


And sometimes, all it takes is a gentle nudge from someone who cares to help us shift the lens.


“I write about the dark because I’ve felt it. But I choose to write about happiness today because I’ve felt that too. And maybe the truth of who we are lies somewhere in between—where we don’t ignore the shadows, but still choose to walk toward the light.”


Nidhi Guglani

Comments

  1. Shambhavi V20 May 2025 at 12:19

    So well said!
    Change is eternal. I read this quote somewhere that went something like, "You are under no obligation to be the person you were 5 minutes ago."
    Just because we feel lost and pained sometimes doesn't mean we're incapable of feeling better ever again. It also doesn't mean we should ignore the pain and only acknowledge happiness. I see emotions as waves in the ocean. We ride them all, both the highs and the lows. And I feel there's a certain happiness in giving in to your pains, just the same as every happy moment must sadly end. Darkness and light must coexist, and neither is to be feared. :)

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