<p>Two boys were eating some grapes. One of them remarked, “Aren’t they sweet?” “I guess so,” the other replied, “but they are full of seeds.” As they sauntered through the canopy of dense flowering plants and foliage, the first boy exclaimed, “Look at those big, beautiful roses!”<br /><br /></p>.<p> The other promptly commented, “They are full of thorns.” Presently, they stopped at a store on the road for a soft drink. It was a warm day and they were gulping the drink. After several swallows, the second youngster complained, “My bottle is half-empty already.” The first responded, “Mine is still half-full!”<br /><br />These two boys reflect the two contrasting attitudes available to anyone on life and its vicissitudes. In common parlance, these attitudes are referred to as ‘optimism’ and ‘pessimism’ and those with these outlooks as ‘optimists’ and ‘pessimists.’ While the first boy was an eternal optimist always seeing the positive side to any situation, the second was an obvious pessimist who chose to focus on the negative side of things. Though one of these opposing perspectives is ingrained in a personality, each of us has the free choice to determine which view we would take to life. And it is in this decision that we make in being an optimist or a pessimist that makes the difference in being happy or gloomy. Consider the facts: Optimists view life in all its rainbow colours; pessimists cannot go past the gray side of life. <br /><br />Optimists are cheerful and look out for better times; pessimists are grumpy and get discouraged at the slightest excuse. Optimists look beyond failures and learn from past mistakes; pessimists get dejected by failures and do not use them as learning experiences. Optimists look for and find fulfillment in all areas of life; pessimists expect and settle for an empty life. Optimists are bound to succeed in life; pessimists seldom accomplish anything.<br /><br />A cursory glance at the stark disparities between optimists and pessimists is a telling point on who is worth emulating. Being an optimist is not only rewarding but one that all can aspire to become through constant practice. Conversely being a pessimist is futile and ought to be consciously shunned. So, treading life as a never-say-die optimist is a guaranteed route to success and satisfaction.<br /></p>
<p>Two boys were eating some grapes. One of them remarked, “Aren’t they sweet?” “I guess so,” the other replied, “but they are full of seeds.” As they sauntered through the canopy of dense flowering plants and foliage, the first boy exclaimed, “Look at those big, beautiful roses!”<br /><br /></p>.<p> The other promptly commented, “They are full of thorns.” Presently, they stopped at a store on the road for a soft drink. It was a warm day and they were gulping the drink. After several swallows, the second youngster complained, “My bottle is half-empty already.” The first responded, “Mine is still half-full!”<br /><br />These two boys reflect the two contrasting attitudes available to anyone on life and its vicissitudes. In common parlance, these attitudes are referred to as ‘optimism’ and ‘pessimism’ and those with these outlooks as ‘optimists’ and ‘pessimists.’ While the first boy was an eternal optimist always seeing the positive side to any situation, the second was an obvious pessimist who chose to focus on the negative side of things. Though one of these opposing perspectives is ingrained in a personality, each of us has the free choice to determine which view we would take to life. And it is in this decision that we make in being an optimist or a pessimist that makes the difference in being happy or gloomy. Consider the facts: Optimists view life in all its rainbow colours; pessimists cannot go past the gray side of life. <br /><br />Optimists are cheerful and look out for better times; pessimists are grumpy and get discouraged at the slightest excuse. Optimists look beyond failures and learn from past mistakes; pessimists get dejected by failures and do not use them as learning experiences. Optimists look for and find fulfillment in all areas of life; pessimists expect and settle for an empty life. Optimists are bound to succeed in life; pessimists seldom accomplish anything.<br /><br />A cursory glance at the stark disparities between optimists and pessimists is a telling point on who is worth emulating. Being an optimist is not only rewarding but one that all can aspire to become through constant practice. Conversely being a pessimist is futile and ought to be consciously shunned. So, treading life as a never-say-die optimist is a guaranteed route to success and satisfaction.<br /></p>
