Optimist or Pessimist...

An article in the today’s newspaper was food for thought about a basic choice of life. The decision being....am I going to be an eternal optimist.....or a reality....pessimist?
Often we don’t ‘consciously’ set out to be either/or by decision or choice.
Many factors shape our personality, character, genetics and environment.
Out of a combination of these....we form the mentality of being optimistic about life.....or having a pessimistic point of view.
The terrorist activities in these years of the millennium bring out many fears. Some are justified....others become paranoia.
“Hope for the best and expect the worst” is a philosophy adapted by many.
It is really a depressing philosophy and self-defeating for achieving any kind of consistent happiness in life.
Should we really expect that every person we meet or every situation we face will be the very worst they or it can be?
It would be nearly impossible to have one happy or peaceful moment in one’s life with this outlook.
According to some people, even when things are good, we should fret and complain about them possibly ....turning bad!

On the other hand....to sail thru life with the optimist point of view that life will successfully run itself for my benefit....without my active participation of good sense, wise choices, hard work, honest endeavors and compassion and caring for my fellow man......is optimist foolhardiness!!!

Recently, I commented about the beautiful weather to three different people one morning. All three of the people, instead of agreeing with me and saying how blessed we were to live in such a beautiful place.....expressed their concern and worry about future weather and how bad it might be!
I could not have ‘wished’ for a better example of....not experiencing happiness...even while happiness was taking place!!!

I choose, by faith..... to be a ....eternal optimist...in order to thoroughly enjoy.....The Good Life!!!
Hallelujah!