There is no shortage of sad songs with lyrics about betrayal, relationship breakdown, divorce, loneliness, unrequited love, guilt, insecurity, angst, and a host of other associated emotions.
Elton John puts it poignantly in his hit song, Sad Songs Say So Much:
“‘Cause from the lips of some old singer
We can share the troubles we already know.”
In a bizarre sort of way, we love these sad songs, and they frequently become the greatest and most memorable hits, maybe because they touch the deepest part of our souls, and we can all relate to them to some or other degree.
The lyrics of these songs speak what the heart feels.
“When it’s good, then it’s good, it’s so good until it goes bad
‘Till you’re trying to find the you that you once had.”
P!nk – Sober
P!nk, the stylized name for the singer, songwriter and actress, Alecia Moore,is another artist that has recently shot to fame. Her lyrics strike a common chord for many of us, with her mother commenting that:
“Her initial writings were always very introspective.
Some of it was very black, and very deep, almost worrisome.”
Probably her most profound lyrics are from ‘73 Family Portrait, which deals with the emotional trauma of a marriage breakdown seen through the eyes of a child.
“Momma please stop cryin’, I can’t stand the sound
Your pain is painful and it’s tearin’ me down
I hear glasses breakin’ as I sit up in bed
I told dad you didn’t mean those nasty things you said.”
P!nk – ’73 Family Portrait
It goes without saying that all the emotions exposed and explored in all these sad songs fall squarely within the sphere of psychology, and this is within the ambit of the work that psychologists do.
But, it should come as no surprise that all these very same emotions are encountered in the field of family law, which is the work that family lawyers do.
Divorce, custody issues, adultery, splitting of estates, financial need, domestic violence, are some aspects that elicit the most highly charged emotions, and at Simon Dippenaar & Associates Inc., we encounter these on almost a daily basis.
“In our family portrait we look pretty happy
(Can we work it out? Can we be a family?)
We look pretty normal, let’s go back to that
(I promise I’ll be better, Daddy please don’t leave)”
P!nk – ’73 Family Portrait
The problem is that law is about finding legal solutions to legal problems, and generally, it is a sad indictment on both the legal profession, and the court system, that they adopt an attitude that is detached from the deep and delicate psychological aspects associated with family law matters.
Consider divorce. From a legal perspective, it is merely a legal act to dissolve the marriage, with little consideration given to the psychological effects on those embroiled in the legal fray.
Yet, divorce is arguably one of the most emotional and painful processes that one can experience, with consequences that are so far reaching that they could easily affect the rest of one’s life, let alone the effect it has on any children of the marriage.
If the truth be told, for many, the only ‘psychologist’ they will see during any traumatic legal issue, will only be their attorney.
At Simon Dippenaar & Associates Inc., we are acutely aware of the
overlapping relationship between psychology, and the practice of law.
Our practice is people oriented, rather than law oriented. Yes, we work within a legal framework, but we bridge the gap between merely applying the law, with an appreciation and cognisance of the varied human emotions involved in each matter that we deal with.
At Simon Dippenaar & Associates Inc., we consider it an injustice not take into account the psychological aspects involved in each case, and that’s why we seek to mold our legal approach to accord with each client’s specific needs.
We avoid litigating for the sake of litigating, rather we carefully tailor our legal approach to reduce negative psychological ramifications, especially for any children involved.
We strive for collaboration from all parties, use mediation where appropriate, and also work closely with mental health professionals.
We know that any new start, will only be as good as the solution obtained. Speak to Simon if you need assistance: sdippenaar@sdlaw.co.za / +27 (0) 86 099 5146.
Further reading:
Divorce Attorney Cape Town
http://divorceattorneycapetown.co.za/The information on this website is provided to assist the reader with a general understanding of the law. While we believe the information to be factually accurate, and have taken care in our preparation of these pages, these articles cannot and do not take individual circumstances into account and are not a substitute for personal legal advice. If you have a legal matter that concerns you, please consult a qualified attorney. Simon Dippenaar & Associates takes no responsibility for any action you may take as a result of reading the information contained herein (or the consequences thereof), in the absence of professional legal advice.