Someone read my brochure this weekend and asked, “So what exactly is an eternal optimist?” Without launching into a theological treatise, I told him, “It is someone who believes things are going to ultimately work out. Not that bad things won’t happen. But, when they do, I believe we’ll eventually get to the other side.”
I’m not sure I live with a glass-half-full attitude. Sometimes my glass is completely empty by the end of the day. But I don’t panic. I usually just go to bed on time and remind myself we can get more water tomorrow. (Or iced tea. I actually hate water.) The glass won’t stay empty forever.
Being eternally optimistic doesn’t mean I’m always smiling. I have Mondays. (Despite my mother’s best attempts to remind me that God made Monday’s, too.) I get tired, sick, discouraged, overwhelmed, lonely, worried, and basically blah. I just don’t stay there. Because I do believe that, no matter what, no matter who, we really will win in the end.
Of course, even my optimism has a catch. It requires God. All of Him. Fully, fiercely, forever in control for those who belong to Him. He is the Eternal part of Eternal Optimism. And He always wins.
This is so encouraging. I’m getting better at not staying there, but only because of God’s goodness. When I do stay there for very long it’s usually because I am feeling sorry for myself and want to have a pity party.
Oh, yeah. I’ve thrown a party or two.
One of the best compliments I received recently was when a co-worker told me, “You always try to put a positive spin on things.” Why not?