Gratitude as optimism

I am not naturally an optimist. Show me a glass at the halfway mark, and I’ll call it just that. It’s neither half full or empty, but at an equilibrium between the two - a neutral point subject to our interpretations, moods, and desires at the time. If halfway means you already want more, then it might be half empty and time to get a refill. If you’re satisfied and less likely to down the whole thing, it might be half-full and more than sufficient. No refill required.

In a few interviews, Michael J. Fox discussed gratitude as having a link to optimism. This is not a new connection, but a good reminder from pop culture that gratitude creates better living. It feeds the narrative that maybe there’s still some things to be thankful for.

It’s how we can provide hospice and be thankful for that time.

Or, work within a pandemic. The family is all at home, attempting to do what we’ve historically all done in separate places: work, learn, play, and so on. Without differentiation or movement from spaces, time ends up a blur. But, sometimes, the kid nestles up next to me, working on a PowerPoint. He’s learned Tableau and even accepted some of my writings as bedtime reading.

Sometimes, gratitude comes in the form of knowing that we have each other. If that’s optimism, then you can fill my glass.

Photo by Lanju Fotografie on Unsplash