"The optimist sees the doughnut,
the pessimist, the hole."
-- McLandburgh Wilson
Do you know any people, perhaps even someone that is in your life pretty regularly that no matter what is presented them, they have at least one negative comment. Maybe it is something missing, or something not to their liking. They are more than just complainers, but have a perpetual pessimistic outlook.
I love this doughnut and doughnut hole quote because it clearly shows what I'm talking about here. What is missing versus what is there. Here's a couple of other similar quotes that say it just a bit differently that I like:
"Two men look out through the same bars: One sees the mud, and one see stars"
-- Frederick Langbridge
"The pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist, the opportunity in every difficulty." -- L. P. Jacks
I generally try to avoid these people just like I avoid the news media, but sometimes that isn't a clear option; however, just because they may have this view, doesn't mean we have to justify our view, or be upset by our association. Though the idea of pessimism and optimism are opposites, doesn't mean that we have to be that way with each other. There are plenty of ways to come together should we desire to do so. This becomes the key to seeing other people's point of view without necessarily giving up our own.
By allowing other ways, other attitudes, other views, even opposite views to exist in our midst, and at the same time, stop all judgements of good or bad, we can learn to appreciate how others claim their position while viewing it from our own.
"Yes, We Are All Different, But Not So Different That We Cannot Get Along With One Another. . . If We Will Disagree Without Being Disagreeable."
-- J Martin Kohe
Spread Some Joy Today--Lighten up.
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