People often tell the optimist that they should be a pessimist or a realist because bad things will inevitably happen to them and they will only get disappointed in life by expecting the best. I disagree.
Indeed bad things do happen to the optimist. They get disappointed, rejected, disgusted, and devastated. The only difference between the optimist and the pessimist is that unfortunate circumstances do not cause the optimist to give up on expecting great things out of life. The optimist does not act like they do not believe good things will happen to them because they DO believe good things will happen to them. The optimist does not say there is no way they can make a difference in the world because they DO believe they can make a difference in the world. The optimist believes they can change a person’s life for all eternity.
So no, Mr. Pessismist and No, Mr. “Don’t have expectations” It is you who are wrong. Many of the optimist’s dreams never come true, many of their goals are never achieved, but many of their goals ARE achieved. Many of the optimist’s dreams ARE made manifest, and it is only because the optimist had the courage to dream them. The ones who despite everything are still crazy enough to believe they can love deeply, and change the world are the only ones who do. The optimist does get hurt, but the optimist is strong enough, competent enough, and brave enough to deal with those disappointments when they come, and unlike the pessimist they do not let the bad in life stop them from achieving, hoping, working toward, and believing in great things.
Great post Kassie :)
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