After I read the beautiful essay Ned Vizzini’s best friend wrote for MTV, commemorating his death anniversary, I knew I had to pick up one of his books.
January 6th will forever be known as the day I started reading It’s Kind of a Funny Story and finally found a name for what I’ve been wanting to feel. “The Shift” is something Ned writes and Craig (the protagonist) really wants.
The Shift :: the desire for something to happen that would just ‘click’ and make you feel like you’ve finally made the right turn you’ve been searching for
The reality about grief is that it’s intangible. It’s something you know you’re in, but don’t really know how to explain or get a hold of. Yes, you’re sad some days, but there are days when you aren’t really sad, but you still feel off. You’re searching for something, but don’t even know what it really is.
I want that shift Ned writes about, but at this point I don’t know what I’m searching for or whether I’d even recognize The Shift if it happened to me.
It’ s just nice to know I’m not alone in wanting it.
