The value of remaining positive

I am convinced that people who are positive, seeing the glass half full, have more fun, and enjoy life better than their negative counterparts.  The positive individual can usually find something good to see in others while accepting their flaws and imperfections, remaining open to a relationship that would otherwise not be possible.

A positive outlook can turn gloom and doom into hope and promise, and transform failure to growth and opportunity.  A negative attitude is more likely to view failure as pre-ordained and decide any further efforts would be futile.

Optimism shines a light on others, pessimism a shadow.  Optimism attracts friends and pessimism repels them.  An important note here – it is the ACT of optimism or pessimism that has these effects, There are people whose private lives are in opposition to their public life.

I recognize that these are broad generalities, and that there are many variations and exceptions to all of the above.  But overall I think my assessment is a reasonable one.

photo by Harvey Tilker

WHERE THE HELL ARE MY ROSE COLORED GLASSES?

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It is getting increasingly difficult to be the optimist that I am. This morning my usual routine was cut short because I could not bring myself to read the “papers”. ( Every morning around 5-5:30 I enjoy about an hour of very quiet time before P and the Ws get up. It begins with the NY Times and the Washington Post on line, then a check on e-mail followed by blogs, and ends with my journal.)

As much as I enjoy reading political news and commentary, I find it’s becoming too distasteful! The “news” is now about who said what, what words were used, and what do they mean? Or who's supporter or aide said this and who is calling for an apology. It seems every candidate wants every other candidate to apologize for something. This election campaign is ridiculously too long; it is now not only boring but embarrassing.

If that isn’t enough to knock off the rose colored glasses how about the hedge fund manager that made BILLIONS, not millions last year, while the rest of the country flounders as a result of wall streets sight of hands. Or the news that a major drug company “helped” researchers write the results of their studies; isn’t that a surprise.

I consider myself a thoughtful tolerant person who tries to see all sides of an issue, and who thinks the best of people and circumstances. But not today! Today I would be happy to see all politicians, political hacks, political commentators and columnists, and hedge fund managers and slick, greedy wall street operators taken out to see and dumped onto some desolate island to spend the rest of their lives together.

There, I’ve said it. Tomorrow I feel like my old self again, maybe even sooner.


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