Optimism, Pessimism, Skepticism

I have been listening to a series of podcasts about grief hosted by Anderson Cooper and I’ve found them to be mesmerizing. He is so honest and raw when he talks about the loss of his father, mother, and brother. When his voice cracks (which it does often), my heart aches for him. If you get a chance, they are well worth the time.

On one of the podcasts, I heard this comment, “You’ll have a happier life if you are an optimist. Choose that.” The statement has stayed with me for weeks, causing me to consider whether I am an optimist. The answer is, “No.”

The Oxford dictionary defines optimism as “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.” That’s not me. I’m not sure, but I think life experiences, my age, politics, or a combination of all the above have resulted in a general cynicism that precludes my ability to be Mary Poppins. Hats off to those who see the cup half full, believe ‘something good always comes out of something bad,’ and profess a rainbow of other platitudes; I’m just not a charter member of the club.

However, neither am I a pessimist. Oxford defines pessimism as “a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.” I will readily admit, there was a time in my life when doom and gloom was what I expected, and usually experienced. Remember that song on Hee-Haw, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all?” That was me. It wasn’t even that the glass was half empty, there was no glass.

Truth be told, I am a skeptic. The definition in the dictionary includes my picture and an explanation that a skeptic is, “A person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions” – that’s me. I can question a decision to death. I research everything. It’s not about the glass being half full or half empty. I want to see the glass, hold the glass, know what the glass is made of, how many ounces it holds, and if anyone has made sure the measurements are accurate. And even when I’ve exhausted all feasible explanations, options, opinions, and considerations, I will continue to ruminate on the choices until someone finally says, “For the love of all things holy…make a damn decision!” I hear that a lot.

How about you?