Is your glass half full, or half empty? (We’ll talk about my glass later; right now, I want you to think about your own vessel.)
Of course, the question that’s really being asked is, “Are you an optimist, or a pessimist?”
You don’t have to be “Polly Perky” to be an optimist, you just need to be able to see things in a favorable, or at least tolerable, light. Conversely, “Maudlin Marvin” isn’t a whole lot of fun to be around either.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. My friend Rick has too. Things have been “coming at him” fast and furious the past three and a half months, and it’s been difficult for him to catch his breath between roller coaster drops.
I have been his caregiver much of this time, and it’s been difficult for both of us to hang on to the “good” of each baby step forward as time and again, the other shoe has dropped.
Nevertheless, we both pretty much agree that his general health is better today than it was a year ago. His life is vastly different now, with many challenges we never saw ahead of us, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t “better” in many ways.
I am grateful for my continuing friendship with Rick. He has taught me a lot about acceptance, compassion, and stubborn tenacity. And those are all good things. Things I certainly needed to learn.
So I’m proclaiming that my own glass is completely full. While half may be liquid, the other half is filled with air, and air certainly counts, especially when it’s used to take a deep breath to keep on keeping on.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.