Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Being a Pessimist...


...is not necessarily a bad thing. I suspect that I've been a pessimist all my life, even as a child.

I try not to be dismal in my pessimism, nor infective, and I tolerate, yea, even love, my optimistic friends. However, as a pessimist, I am hardly ever disappointed. Also, when I discover that things didn't turn out to be as bad as I expected, I experience many joyous moments.

A JOYOUS thing is this snippet garnered a few minutes ago from the local ABC television station (KATV) web site:

"Chilly across Arkansas this morning, but for most of us the sub-freezing temperatures did not occur. The reason...winds remained high overnight and kept the coldest of the air from settling down to the surface. "

Yes, the winds remained high. Each time last night that I stirred in my bed to the point of semi-consciousness I could hear my windchimes, and the turbine vents on my roof, one of which has a slight squeak as it turns. Music to my ears!

The sun is shining. It may be only 42 degrees outside, with a wind chill of 36, but it's beautiful, and my patch of Stars of Bethlehem is still bravely standing!

15 comments:

Sherry Peyton said...

LOL Pat, I just had to laugh..What a good defense of us pessimists! I agree, I don't get nearly as angry when things turn out badly...I expect them to! And we can sure take pleasure in the small things, as you did the wind! Thanks for brightening my day!

Melinda said...

it has been snowing here all morning!

Suldog said...

MY WIFE is generally a pessimist, and I am generally an optimist. I tell her what I will tell you, and I hope you take it as well-meant heartfelt advice. A pessimist has dreary dark thoughts right up until everything turns out a bit better than expected, then it's on to more dreary dark thoughts. An optimist has bright cheery thoughts until things turn out a bit worse than expected, then it's on to more bright cheery thoughts. Now, which person do you think is happier overall?

Yeah, I know. It didn't convince her, either, but I had to try. I'm an optimist :-)

Richard Lawry said...

The low at my house last night was 33 degrees. Depending on which weatherman you listened to the low was supposed to be from 21 degrees to 31 degrees. NOAA website, which I find to be quite accurate forecast 26 degrees. I was glad that we didn't have any plants freeze.

An Arkies Musings

Pat - Arkansas said...

Dear Suldog: First, Thanks for your visit; secondly, for your insights. However, I am the sort of pessimist who does *not* live with dreary-dark thoughts most of the time. Lordy mercy! How dismal that would be! I am, basically, a happy, cheerful, warm-fuzzy, even-keel person. I just don't expect things to always be wonderful, and am therefore not disappointed when they are not, and very happy when they are.

Perhaps I should call myself a "modified" pessimist.

Snap said...

You are too funny! I can be the same way. I've been working hard on being more optimistic ... it may take awhile to report on whether it is working! We joined you with the cold this morning. Didn't last long. (Note to Mother Nature ... it is April 7!)

Hugs--

Just Roaming The Cities said...

It seems to take forever...but it IS COMING!! I like what suldog says about pessimism. No harm in thinking things will turn out well, because mostly they do, and then it is happy infectious for another person. My Fiance' is the MOST optimistic human being on the planet, and he keeps me feeling positive just by being in his presence. Now when I'm around my mother, who tends toward doom and gloom usually, I want to get away fast and thats not a good feeling to have around your mom, who you wish to spend a litle time with...
So maybe you arent as pessimistic as you might think. Sounds like there's always room for improvement, in all our lives :)

Rose said...

Windy here too...

Sister--Helen said...

you are not a pessimist you are a realists

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Pat, I become a pessimist also--when it comes to the weather. We can NEVER predict it---so in winter, when they 'predict' we'll get some snow (which I want), I always say I won't believe it until I see it myself. I have to be a pessimist --because if I am optimistic and believe what they are saying, I will be terribly disappointed if it doesn't happen (which it usually doesn't).

I love snow and we have gotten very little here the past couple of years. Pessimistic???? YES--definitely... ha ha

We have had snow here for two days--but it's just flurries and except for about 1/2 inch during the night, it's just plum cold outside today....

I truly think that when it comes to optimism vs. pessimism--it all comes down to what the 'subject' is.. I may not be pessimistic about the outcome of a certain ballgame --but it's because I don't have an interest in that at all... Understand????

I generally don't think that people are generally more optimistic or more pessimistic by nature. It's all about what 'affects' us--and what we are interested in...

Glad you didn't get the freeze. That is a GOOD thing.
Hugs,
Betsy

rhymeswithplague said...

I agree with you, Pat! One of my famous sayings is that I'd rather be a pessimist than an optimist, because optimists are constantly being disappointed, but pessimists are occasionally pleasantly surprised....

Suldog said...

Pat - I kind of knew that you weren't really an out-and-out pessimist - neither is MY WIFE - but I wanted to offer the advice, just in case it would help!

Patty said...

We've had snow several times today. Of course it isn't sticking, but it's very windy. Sunday we had tornado warnings, and when the sirens went off, it upset our granddaughter. We're having more like March weather than April.I know Spring will be here soon, I just hope it doesn't get HOT all at once, I like it to warm up slowly and have cool evenings. I don't want much, do I? Oh yes and rain while we're sleeping.

Hilary said...

Kind of prepare for the worst but hope for the best. :) Your flowers look great.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Love the flowers here,weather was nice here up to 72 yesterday but the rains are coming