There are a multitude of cliches that float around about how to deal with life or how we view life in general. You know the sayings like “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” or “Do you see the glass half empty or half full?”. They are really all out there to get you to see the difficulties in life as opportunities, to “conquer”  or “overcome” that which seems insurmountable. But what if you’re a “glass half empty” type of person? Or, what if you really don’t like lemonade at all? What do you turn to then?

In full disclosure (and this is Shannon talking here) I am a complete “glass half empty” person. I admit it, if you put half a container of frozen yogurt (my absolute favorite itsy bitsy indulgence) in front of me I will inevitably be bummed that I only have half left. Put the same container in front of the hubby or sister and they think “Great! I still have half left.” I’ve tried, really, I’ve tried to have that NATURAL outlook in life… but maybe it’s just not who I am. I am an overgeneralizer, magnifier of the negative, and dare I say it, often a pessimist. When life gives me lemons, I’d really rather have iced tea. But, to tell the truth, it feels quite liberating to admit that!

THERE IS HOPE THOUGH! In spite of all the negative things I just wrote, I do truly enjoy my life! See, I’ve accepted that part of me… I’ve laughed about that part of me… I even know, in the very moment that I am saying something pessimistic, what I am doing. I’ve also surrounded myself with people who are optimists, those “YAY! I have half of my ‘whatever they love’ left” type of people. They keep me balanced and I balance them. That “negative” part of me also has a role in this crazy universe. With it I bring practicality, logic, a “let’s come back to earth,” perspective! AND, sometimes, it’s that’s very mind frame that makes me push my personal limits to be better. It’s a Ying and Yang, if you will.

So, what’s the point you ask? Acceptance. If you’d rather have the iced tea than lemonade in life, why try to change yourself? If seeing half of that glass of champagne in front of you makes you sad, that’s ok! When we live in an “AND” and BOTH” world we accept those parts of ourselves that aren’t the greatest because we accept that they are what make us great! I am a pessimist AND practical. I add BOTH logic and a grounded perspective to life. Yes, there are somethings in life that we need to change… it’s destructive to our lives (only you can determine those). Yet, there comes a point in our lives, when we reflect and look in the mirror, that we have to simply accept our weakness, and maybe find some humor in them as well!