I don’t see optimism as a blind hope that everything will turn up roses. I experience optimism as a mindset to picture again a positive outcome beyond current adversities. To succumb to pessimism is a waste of our time. Life goes on, we are better off to move on to apply what we have learned toward a better outcome.

Decisions continue to need to be made, even when we are down. You always have the opportunity to determine a next course of learned actions or to merely accept what might come at you next.

Making a conscientious effort to discover the most positive and prospective next outcome amid the realities ahead of us requires optimism. Pessimism leads to nothing better. The hard decision is to assert ourselves again to strive for the better, and therefore easier life. The easy decision is to absorb self-pity and stand dormant to accept a much harder life. Your choice, I choose to learn with optimism.

“I’m not interested in blind optimism, but I’m interested in optimism that is hard-won, that takes on darkness and then says, ‘This is not enough.’ — Colum McCann —

MITM