Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles

"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating." – O. Henry.

In these poignant words, O. Henry speaks to the truth of human existence—a truth that often eludes the eyes of the untested. Life, in all its grandeur and simplicity, is not an endless parade of joy and laughter, but rather a mix of fleeting moments of happiness and the more enduring, yet often overlooked, presence of sorrow. In this reflection, he encapsulates the essence of human experience: we find ourselves caught between the gentle smiles of fleeting pleasure and the heavy, often persistent weight of sniffles—the quiet griefs and burdens we carry through the days. And it is these sniffles—the moments of loss, disappointment, and struggle—that often predominate in our lives.

From the ancient sages, we learn that suffering is an inherent part of the human condition. Buddha taught that life is suffering, a cycle of inevitable pain, and that to transcend it, one must embrace the impermanence of existence and find peace in the midst of turmoil. Similarly, the Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca spoke of acceptance of life's challenges. They did not deny the reality of pain but understood that inner peace comes not from avoiding suffering, but from learning how to navigate it with grace and resilience. O. Henry’s quote speaks to this same understanding, that while we may long for perpetual happiness, it is often the quieter, more somber moments that define our lives and shape us into who we are.

Consider the journey of Abraham Lincoln, a man whose life was marked by deep personal loss and national strife. Lincoln, who faced the death of his young son, his own bouts with depression, and the constant weight of leading a nation through the Civil War, experienced his fair share of sniffles. And yet, he also carried moments of triumph and hope—moments that shone like rare, precious smiles. But it is clear that the heartache he endured informed his leadership and made him the empathetic, courageous figure that history remembers. It is through his sobs and sniffles that Lincoln’s smile—his capacity for hope—was most profound.

The story of Joan of Arc, a young woman who led the French army to victory in the Hundred Years' War, is similarly infused with this duality of joy and sorrow. Joan’s visions and faith propelled her to achieve the seemingly impossible. Yet her life was marred by the deep grief of betrayal and eventual execution. Her triumphs were brief, and her life ended in sorrow, but her legacy—her smile—remains. It is in the sniffles—the quiet suffering of her trial and execution—that Joan’s courage and spirit shine brightest, for it was in those moments of trial that she remained steadfast to her beliefs. Her story, though tragic, serves as a reminder that the sob and the sniffle do not diminish the smile; rather, they give it depth and meaning.

O. Henry’s quote reminds us that life is not a straight line of happiness, but rather a journey filled with contradictions. Sobs—those moments of pain, frustration, and loss—are often the threads that weave the fabric of our lives. They shape our understanding of the world and deepen our empathy for others. Without the sniffles, we might not appreciate the smiles when they come. It is the weight of grief that makes the lightness of joy so precious, and it is through enduring the hardships of life that we gain the resilience to celebrate its fleeting beauty.

The lesson here is to embrace the full spectrum of life—the highs and the lows, the joys and the sorrows. To reject the sniffles in pursuit of an idealized happiness is to misunderstand the nature of life itself. As Rainer Maria Rilke once said, "The purpose of life is not to arrive at the end, but to journey through the landscape." In that landscape, there will be moments of pain and frustration, but there will also be moments of love, connection, and fulfillment. It is in accepting the full range of experiences that we find the meaning of life itself.

In our daily lives, let us not seek to avoid the sniffles and the sobs, but rather welcome them as teachers. Suffering, as hard as it is, offers us the wisdom to appreciate the good, to connect deeply with others, and to become more resilient. Smiles may be fleeting, but they are all the more valuable for their rarity. So, as we journey through life, let us remember O. Henry’s words: the sniffles are as much a part of the human experience as the smiles, and it is in learning how to navigate both that we find the fullness of life.