Interestingly, the Wisdom of Kabbalah explains that the reason we enjoy sad songs is because of the nostalgia, the memories of sad, difficult and bitter moments we had experienced that had since been “sweetened” or resolved.

We enjoy this feeling of completion of challenges that have been overcome.

Seeing in retrospect how difficulties that scared and oppressed us at the time, have been amended, is a great psychological relief.

Which is why being reminded of those sad and fearful emotions with sad songs provides us with pleasure and satisfaction.

There is a beautiful parable about a boy who watches his father, a clay maker, making cups and bowls. He sees him taking perfectly round balls of clay and making holes in them.

He asks his father “why do you make holes in the beautiful balls?” and the father replies that without those empty places, those vessels would not be able to be filled.

Our pains and troubles are the same. They become our blessings.