Current mood:
optimistic Category: Blessed Life
Pessimism is defined as:
the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems or a tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible; the doctrine or belief that this is the worst of all possible worlds and that all things ultimately tend toward evil; the doctrine or belief that the evil in the world outweighs the good
A pessimist is defined as one whom habitually sees or anticipates the worst or is disposed to be gloomy! This not to be confused with one who is trustworthy or wise to foresee the outcome of a situation.
I often think of the Serenity Prayer, when thinking of people who live the sad depressing life of a pessimist:
"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right, if I surrender to His will, that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next."
This beautiful, life abiding prayer was written by Reinhold Niebuhr. Now, there is a human being who could teach us all a thing or two about a pessimistic lifestyle! However, I will simply give you the website, his sad story is another blog, another day! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Niebuhr
I do not understand pessimism, or how individuals get caught up in that way of life. Each of us could look into our own lives and find our own bit of pity and sad story, while at the same time we could reach in and find a precious lengthy list of blessings, from the beginning of our own existence.
As I get older and wiser, of course,
::smiling sarcastically:: I am learning more, how to appreciate the greater things in my life. My family, for example, God has richly blessed me with a precious family, including my new family, my in-laws. He has blessed me with a precious, not perfect, husband, with too many wonderful qualities to go into detail about; I did that in my last blog. I have a wonderful home, a great job including a great boss. I have been graced with precious nieces and nephews. Each of whom love me more than was ever expected. However, I still find myself whining about a bad day, whether it be my husbands or mine, and most of the time the subject of the complaints is petty!Jason and I have recently made a pact, to try to find something good about our day, every time we want to come home and complain. It is working! We have come to realize and recognize the positives about our jobs! I am now truly able to thank God I have one, as is he! Now, I am working on applying that to my attitude at work…God, more patience please! ::sigh::
Last year, I remember talking with some of my patients, at work, about my then upcoming wedding and marriage. Keep in mind I fit hearing aids, therefore I work with many older (wiser) adults, most over the age of 70, and many of them widowed. Needless to say, I was blessed with the most meritorious marital advice, and in abundance, I might add. The one thing I realized through all of that advice, was that life is in fact short. I established, early on, the fact my days on earth are numbered, as are the days I have to share with Jason. I remember praying and asking God to remind me of that, every time I felt a need to complain about something Jason did or didn't do for that matter. It has been hard, but it has worked!
I remember having to get use to cleaning up after him; I could not and have not mastered making him clean up after himself, the way I think he should. I remember that pact I made with God, before I said "I do"; remind me Lord, I have him to clean up after, rather than not! It gives me great pleasure to pick up his dirty socks, wherever he decides to pull them off…who would have thought it! ::big toothy grin::
My point is, life is too short for pessimism. God is good, and so is life. For my friends, whom I have complained to, please forgive me; that is neither the friend I want to be, nor the example I wish to set! For those of you who cannot seem to find happiness in life, try to think of an alternative for each situation you face, good or bad. Remember the Serenity Prayer; what a life lesson for all!
The reason I am writing about this, is simply realization! I have recently started putting things into perspective, about different situations and different people in my life. I do not want my friends to call on me to only hear all of the negatives in my life. I want you to know, more than anything else about me, I am truly blessed by God. All of my days are blessed, even the bad ones. My job is blessed, my husband's job is blessed as is our home, our family and our friends, etc.
I neither have time to complain, nor the time to listen to the same people complain incessantly. I am not saying I am not willful to be a shoulder to cry on, or even to offer advice if needed, in fact I take great pride in the ability to do that and be there for others; part of my struggle with empathy! My friend's and family's problems are of great importance and concern to me; provided they are in fact real problems and not inconsequential pessimism! If so, be prepared with hearing the truth! That said, not trying to seem bleak and unimpassioned.
It is that I have recently concluded there are those individuals, which create the problems in their lives, unnecessarily. They over analyze every detail of every aspect in their life, and even the lives of those around them, to the point it consumes every ounce of happiness achievable. In reality they have a great life, along with everything in it, yet, you talk with them and they grumble ABOUT EVERYTHING!!! They cannot be happy unless they are complaining about someone or something; someone has mistreated them, someone expects too much of them, life is unfair for them, they do not understand this one or that one; how does this person do this or that; so forth and so on. They have spent their life, missing the forest for the trees. It all drives me crazy; and with that said, consider this:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3, 5-6
Life is what you make it, the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
So, my friends, may you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy. And please remember, when life throws you lemons, make lemonade!!! I know, I know...it is so cliché, but it is the great classic recipe for happiness!
By the way, two things to check out, one the website: http://www.lifeisgood.com/
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