I wear rose-colored glasses. I’ll be happy to admit it. These glasses are relatively new and they perfectly accessorize my colorful wardrobe.
I haven’t always been so optimistic. Most of my life I dwelt in a pessimistic darkness I called realism. I prided myself on my cool demeanor and my tough exterior. I took life as it came: living for today but not much more. My attitude was let’s party now before the world ends.
I even thought at one time the world would be better off without us. We humans after all have treated our planet so shabbily. Successful parasites have learned not to kill their host. We humans have not reached that pinnacle…yet, but I am rooting for us. I believe in us. I have a hope I didn’t have before.
I thought hope was for fools and dreams were for idiots. I had jaded myself intensely at a much too early age. My realism, interests and inquisitive nature has sent me on a lifetime fact-finding truth-seeking mission. I am compelled by thirst for knowledge more than anything. It is probably due to my Asperger’s. It is a trait I would not change for the world but I know It drives those around me a little crazy.
I used to be an avid news watcher, a political junkie and imaginary pundit since the 1976 presidential race when I was 6. I took an immediate and not really age appropriate interest in politics then, and I have always been that way. I abandoned the Sunday comics for the business section and editorial page. Being a media junkie at the time, growing up in the 70’s, I bought in to all that hype about global warming and overpopulation. I’ve been an avid earth watcher and I listened to the predictions. I wish our government had, but nevertheless I knew. I started hearing and learning more about a great many things.
The more I learned about the world around me the more I wanted to learn. I have this curse, or I guess a deficit in which I know a little about a lot. Which means I am the perfect example of why a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. At the age of 10, I was convinced Reagan would get us all killed in a nuclear showdown with The Russians.
I would smirk sarcastically at the old “duck and cover” movie bits. I knew there was no real way of surviving that way. I prided myself in my cool realism. I saw “The Day After” I knew what would happen after a nuclear attack, besides I “knew everything” at the time.
The odds were grim. I prided myself on my outside show of toughness but inside I was a quivering mess. I was convinced we were all going to die in the dreaded World War Three or worse yet…survive in some radioactive post apocalyptic nightmare. I began to read the works of Nostradamus and this only confirmed my suspicions.
The more I learned the more depressed I became, until I reached a saturation point…
…and life must go on and go on it did and after a number of years I found myself looking into the big beautiful blue eyes of my infant son. So loving…so trusting with such a full life ahead of him. He was depending on me and I had to get it together if only for him, and that is when I donned those rose-colored glasses. I’d be damned if I let him down. I felt I had no other choice but embrace optimism.
I will let Studs explain it…
“With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, ‘Studs, you’re an optimist. I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what’s the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven.”
*Studs Terkel*
As time goes by I see the results of this crazy optimism and it never ceases to amaze me….it works…it really works and I am a testimony to that.
I still have my dark moods, stick around and you’ll discover this, but every black cloud that rolls around in my brooding psyche has a silver lining and it did not just happen that way.
Whenever I see that black cloud sneak up on me I face it and take out my imaginary silver pen and line it with gusto and I’d like to think a flourish.
So, think me an unrealistic, sunny fool with an unduly cheerful, optimistic, or favorable view of things.
I am doing something I never thought I’d do–I’m drinking the Kool-Aid of positive thinking; colorful and infused with a certain satisfying sugary goodness that can only come with the belief in belief and it is delicious!
Tell me the world is going to hell in a handbasket–I’ll just smile, put on my rose-colored glasses and partake of the sweet nectar.
Optimism: Drink deeply, my friends.
Strawberryindigo.
∞
♦ Related articles ♦
Why the world won’t end in 2012 (www.nasa.gov)
The power of positive thinking (www.naturaltherapypages.com)
How the power of positive thinking won scientific credibility (http://www.theatlantic.com)
The Answer to the Question – Is the glass half empty or half full? (pinkbananashoes.wordpress.com)
Rose Tinted Glasses (365thingstowear.wordpress.com)
Life Is Color 
Ohmigosh, I didn’t know there were other people who had nerdy interests in politics while growing up in the ’70’s. I was 11 the summer of the Watergate hearings and I stayed inside everyday to watch it. The Day After was on TV my first year away at university and it scared me fecal-less. It was about the time that 99 Red Balloons was on the radio and the Pershing II’s were going into Europe. It was a terrifying time, not least because I was sure Reagan was going to get us all blown up, too.
My father who was in the war told me often that things usually work out. Somehow despite what he lived through he had this amazing attitude. I try to see life like he did.
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Hello Gingerdad: I didn’t know there was other people that nerdy either ( I mean that as a compliment)…Let me start by saying I am a bit envious that you watched the Watergate hearings at the time..I heard there was a theme song…is that true? Your father was a wise man and is probably/hopefully correct about everything working out…I keep my fingers crossed considering the way the world is, but then it’s always been crazy. We just have more stuff, more people and instant news.
I was convinced that Reagan was The Antichrist and now whenever I hear 99 red balloons on the radio, I will think of him, WW III and you! (another compliment) Thanks for that! And thanks for stopping by–I’ve always liked Gingers! 😀
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I kinda thought RR was the Antichrist nicer, but more dimwitted brother. He would get us all into trouble but wouldn’t mean to.
I love watching the Watchman movie and seeing Nixon get re-elected over and over again and the movie ends with a scene where a couple of minor characters are discussing RR thinking of running for president. It makes me giggle every time. Full disclosure: I have never read the graphic novels.
Thank you for all of the compliments. Someone should do a cover of Nena’s song but it’s about 99 Redheads. Just a suggestion.
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Hey Gingerdad: A friend read RR’s biography and told me that he spent much of his time sitting in bed, eating dinner on a TV tray and watching old movies, including his own…I guess that’s how “great” minds spend their time, Nancy couldn’t wait to leave and so he spent many night awaiting “mommy’s” return. Dimwitted brother allright…
I haven’t seen the Watchman movie but now I will have to, I need a good giggle now and then.
I will get in touch with Nena’s agent…he owes me a favor… 😉
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Sitting in bed and watching old movies? How do I get me that job? Oh, right, I have to be able to show my birth certificate and it has to say Made in the USA.
After commending the Watchmen to you, I just had to watch it again last night. Somehow I had forgotten that Nena’s song is on the soundtrack. I once met her cousin’s sister’s schoolmate’s aunt’s ex-boyfriend. True story. Ok, ok, I am making that up.
If you do watch the Watchmen, there is disturbing violence. There is also a cool Watergate reference.
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Hey Gingerdad! I tried to get such a job but I was told the position had already been filled….ah…such is life!
You got my hopes up about being six degrees separated from Nena–That would have made me seven degrees separated which is being practically as famous as Nena herself! I can only hope my famous cat Mario will meet her someday—THAT would give me bragging rights for sure!
I may watch the Watchmen since you do mention violence and disturbing violence at that, which could be more fun than Watergate! I am an American after all and we love that stuff, as everyone already knows.
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Wait…does your cat Mario have a brother called Luigi? If so, you shouldn’t need to rely on Nena for any kind of fame.
I know you guys are much more familiar with violence than we Canadians, but the swearing and disrobing may offend your sensibilities. You do have those 7 words you can’t say on television and your government did get all weird with Janet Jackson performing at the Super Bowl halftime show a while back.
Speaking of Watergate and violence, the summer after the Watergate hearings, I stayed indoors a lot to watch the Church hearings on assassinations. I was the coolest kid in my neighbourhood.
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Mario has no brother, Luigi was lost to a giant ape…believe it or not, it was the strangest thing… 😉
Violence is one thing but we Americans are purtanical, as you have pointed out. It’s a strange mix. It figures you are Canadian. My family came from there. I am the only one who’s not. Many of my cousins live there now. I admire you guys and perhaps if I prove myself, you’ll let me live up there someday when I retire.
I bet we would have been the bestest of buddies..I have never heard of the church hearings on assassinations..was The Legion of Decency involved?
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I know! We would howl for hours. I can imagine a lot of bloggista’s and bloggisto’s getting together and just having a grand time talking into the wee hours.
About the Church hearings, it’s not a church church. It was a politician who held, um, hearings, into assassinations and the CIA.
The Legion of Decency sounds less fun, but I could be wrong.
You are welcome to retire here, but I have no sway with immigration officials. Please don’t take my invitation as anything that will stand up in court.
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Hey Gingerdad: I feel dumb about the church hearings…don’t hold it aganist me…I’m just an a American you know.
You never know about the immigration officials, perhaps by the time I do retire, you will have more influence in your country…You are a bright and witty person…I’m counting on you. Don’t let me down. Remember I know where you live….. haha 😉
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I probably know your cousins, too. It’s a small country and we all know each other.
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I heard that about you guys. It must be wonderful…perhaps they live in the next igloo…
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I’ll hitch up the dogsled and find out.
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Very nice, Nancy. 🙂
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Thanks Scott! 🙂
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You’re welcome, Miss Nancy. 🙂
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you should read the book I am reading right now….its called the The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using Defensive Pessimism to Harness Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak…it shows you that different stokes work for different folks..there is no right or wrong attitude, just one that works for you…….
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Hi Sharon: Very interesting, I’m a big reader and I will have to check that out, I’m positive that I will find something to learn there. Thanks.
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Hello from a fellow We Blog community member! My husband and kids have Asperger’s. Wouldn’t change them for the world, and my quirks drive them far crazier than theirs drive me 🙂
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Hello Jesterqueen: Thanks for stopping by. My daughter is Asperger’s too, and we drive each other crazy. I have found, Asperger’s or not…the qurirky people who drive us crazy are the most interesting. 🙂
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Oh yeah…I was 9 at the time of the Cuban missile crisis and resulting boom in home fallout shelter construction, and I was tossed headlong into expecting disaster every time I heard a plane overhead. I was convinced the world would be blown up in nuclear war before I was 30. And I thought Reagan was going to do it, too. But here we are, still here, on this old world that we treat so badly but that loves us anyway. Celebrate those rose colored glasses – life feels so much better when we expect positive outcomes. Here’s a quote from Peter Ustinov that I love: “I regard myself as an optimist. An optimist is a person who knows how sad a place the world can be. A pessimist is one who is forever finding out.”
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Hi Janet: I was convinced that man was “the anti-christ”. Now I know he was an old bad actor with bad ideas who liked to take naps and who loved his “Mommy”
Yes, we are all still here. I like how you say: “But here we are, still here, on this old world that we treat so badly but that loves us anyway.”
So true, my friend.
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What a wonderful post and a great attitude you have taken. It is easy to get sucked into the bad and dark of the world goings on since these things are so publicized but there are lots of sunny fluffy events too. Embrace the good and more good you will find. Just watch out for that Kool-Aid!
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Hey Shoes: Thanks. I thought it was a timely subject given “the world is about to end” People are going crazy around here….there has just been a mall shooting at a local mall. I will watch out for the kool-aid (you sound just like the good mom you are) Do you allow Carter to drink it?
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I heard about the mall shooting – crazy!
Nope, no Kool-Aid for Carter, he is lucky to get a juice box ever now and again.
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Good for you Shoes and good for Carter….Personally I really don’t like Kool-Aid myself.. just the figurative kind. 😉
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I literally wore rose colored glasses back in the early 70s… they were a lot of fun. Since then I’ve worn them figuratively. I buy into the philosophy that you can’t always change situations in your life, but you sure can change how you react to them. Great post, Nancy!
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Hey Gunta: Thanks. I may find me a pair of literal ones too….I bet you looked cute in them!
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I’m actually wearing them in my “about” page… but it’s hard to tell that they’re rose-colored.
Times like what just happened in Clackamas… it gets a bit more difficult to keep up the positive thinking. I know Oregon isn’t immune to crazies, but it does kind of shake one’s faith…..
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My mom shops at Clackamas….it’s just so close. Brought it home to me. On Saturday morning a car plowed right into and totally destroyed the bus stop shelter my kids use on the weekdays to get to school. I’m glad it was on the weekend. It was at the same time they would have been there… There seems to be a certain craziness in the air. I want to hide until 2013.
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The upside is that no one in your family was hurt even though the craziness struck close to home. Stay safe until 2013… I’m still betting that the Mayan calendar thing means we’ll be entering a better age… so the countdown to the 21st is even shorter! 😉
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I like your thinking Gunta! 🙂
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What a lovely post.Your optimism is wonderful! I was also scared and depressed by that film which we watched at school a week before Christmas. Let’s hope such a terrible weapon is never used!
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Hi Cathy: Mentioning that awfully scary movie has seemed to touch a chord in people… I had nightmeres for years because of it. I see that traumatizing schoolchildren about nuclear war was common “across the pond” as well.
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Yes, it ruined that Christmas – I had nightmares too. Amazing thinking back, that schoolkids were actually “forced” to watch it. Did they really think it was educational?!
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On second thought as painful as it was, I don’t think any of us who were effected by these shows will ever advocate the use of such weapons. In the 7th grade I went through a similar experience. They showed what would happen if my own city got attacked, ugh… gruesome to say the least.
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I remember The Day After … There was another version called Threads
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Hi Alastair: Oh my…one was enough.
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They were both as hard hitting as each other
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The Day After scared the hell out me. You’re only a few yrs older than me and I was 10 when I saw it. I’m trying to be more positive as well 🙂 Nice article!
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Hey Sparky: I had nightmeres for years because of that movie…
Nice to see you! 🙂
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