When I think of Charles Darwin, I think of an intellectual giant – someone who spent decades of his life investigating science and leaving behind an enormous legacy of thought-provoking research, such that he became a larger-than-life symbol of dedication and…
…well, it turns out he was all of that, but that he was ALSO a mere mortal.
I recently came across a number of sites including the blog ‘Letters of Note’ (here) in which Charles Darwin’s moody moments were captured in his own (hard to read) handwriting.
I would never wish an ill-temper on anyone – but there is something quite reassuring about finding out that when you have a “life sux” hour (day / week / month) you’re not going crazy alone…
Darwin’s grumpy quotes are repeated all over the internet (who knew!?) and I can’t guarantee that any of them are actually factual, so don’t shoot the messenger if they turn out to be BS. Although, I did find a greatly-named article “Charles Darwin And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” which included a copy of one of his moody moments which says: “But I am very poorly lately & very stupid & hate everybody & everything” (ouch):
[Image source: NPR]
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Anyway, I thought that I would share three of Mr Darwin’s least-finest (but totally real) moments reproduced here in multi-color to make them seem more cheerful! Here’s my favorite (from a letter to his cousin, William Fox, dated the 15th of February 1836):
I hate every wave of the ocean.
Oh.
I’m a big fan of the ocean waves, and have written about them before here. But yeah, that’s some deep unhappiness happening right there… but hopefully the mood was also tidal, and the grumps soon washed away…
But that wasn’t his only hissy-fit involving the sea…
Here’s another positively poetic hater’s moment (from a letter to William Fox on the 24th of October 1852):
I hate a Barnacle as no man ever did before, not even a Sailor in a slow-sailing ship.
Oh dear… Charles was not a happy chappy.
In his defense, I do believe Darwin spent A LOT of time researching barnacles and as someone who spent a lot of time researching one subject for her PhD over and over for 5 years (yep, and I passed late last year, so I’m now Dr Linda thank you!) I can confirm that you can have a love-hate relationship with any topic you spend enough time with.
As a side swerve (hold onto your seats) – it reminds me of another quote from a famous man – this time some very metaphorical words of wisdom from Winston Churchill:
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public.”
But circling back to our mate who determined our very origins, here’s one last letter that revealed what else grumpy Mr Darwin had a hate for, including (sigh) himself, from his letter dated the 3rd September 1862 to John Lubbock:
I hate myself, I hate clover, and I hate bees.
I’m not a huge fan of bees either Mr Darwin… but clover… that’s more of a weedy-hubby-hate, I don’t mind it at all, especially those rare 4-leafed ones that you find from time to time… I also quite like dandelions for that matter…
Anyway, today’s a short post to remind you that it’s OK to not feel OK all the time, if Charles Darwin can be an occasional grumble-bum, so can you!
Oh, and did I mention that Charles Darwin used to get migraines?
Hmph.
Take care taking care of yourself (physically, mentally and emotionally),
Linda x
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PS – for one last perspective on low moods, head over to my analysis of John Denver’s song “I’m Sorry” on my post Is it OK to feel sorry for yourself?
The Mindful Migraine 
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