Maybe we all live life at too high a pitch, those of us who absorb emotional things all day, and as a consequence we can never feel merely content: we have to be unhappy, or ecstatically, head-over-heels happy, and those states are difficult to achieve within a stable, solid relationship. Maybe Al Green is directly responsible for more than I ever realized.
The quote reflects on the emotional highs and lows experienced by individuals who are deeply affected by their surroundings. The author suggests that living life at an intense emotional level may prevent people from experiencing a sense of contentment. Instead, they oscillate between unhappiness and overwhelming joy, which complicates the quest for stability in relationships.
Hornby implies that this intense emotional state may be influenced by cultural elements, such as music, with Al Green serving as a notable example. The connection between emotional experiences and the desire for meaningful relationships suggests that true contentment may require balance and moderation in how we engage with our feelings.
