Optimist, pessimist, realist, or relativist?
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Food for Thought
Judge of Probate Richard Dean
We like to label folks. I am not sure why; maybe in our minds it gives us a sense of order. However, we need to be careful how we place labels on people because it can cause us to have unfair expectations of each other.
You have all heard the question, “Do you see the glass of water as half full or half empty?” If you answered half full, then you are labeled an optimist. On the other hand, if you said half empty you are labeled a pessimist and often told you need to adjust your outlook on life. This is a simplistic view of the world.
When people ask me how I see the glass of water, I ask, “What was the starting point?” In relation to where it is now, did it start out empty or full? If the glass started as a full glass and now half of it is gone, then it is half empty. If the glass started as an empty glass and water was added to it, then it is half full. With that said, let’s define a few words.
Merriam-Webster defines:
“Optimist” as: a person who believes that this world is the best possible world and is inclined to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome;
“Pessimist” as: a person who is inclined to emphasize adverse aspects, conditions and possibilities or to expect the worst possible outcome, that reality is essentially evil, and that evil overbalances happiness in life;
“Realist” as: a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation and one who accepts and deals with things as they really are, or a person (such as a writer or painter) who adheres to a style of realism by representing things in a way faithful to nature or to real life; and
“Relativist” as: a person who adheres to the theory that knowledge is relative to the limited nature of the mind and the conditions of knowing or holds the view that ethical truths depend on the individuals and groups holding them.
Most of us cannot be labeled as one or the other. Most of us adjust based upon the situation or circumstances. That is a healthy position.
Where am I going with this? I often hear people discussing “things.” Things like potholes in the roads, lack of emergency services, lack of “city” water, congested parking areas (in Rockford, until recently that complaint usually centered around the type of court in session), lack of school choice, lack of shopping facilities, lack of food establishments, lack of businesses in the county, no health department, no Veterans Affairs office, etc. Valid complaints, every one of them.
Using the roads as an example, the pessimist would say, “It’s bad and not going to get any better.” The optimist would say, “At least we have paved roads; I remember when most of our roads were dirt.” The relativist would say, “Well it depends on what the definition of ‘pothole’ is.” The realist would say, “Yep there are potholes, but if you drive on the part of the road that doesn’t have potholes, you will be okay.” None of which improves anything.
What we need to do is ask ourselves a few questions. “Why?” “What are our options?” “What can be done to improve it?”
I love Coosa County and the small-town environment that Goodwater, Kellyton and Rockford provide. However, I would like to see every household in our county have the option to connect to “city water.” I would like to see more businesses open in our towns, so we do not have to look at vacant buildings. I would like to see multiple schools in the county. I would like to have better emergency services. I would like to have all the things most of you would like to have to improve your lifestyle and your community.
So, what do we need to do to make things happen? First, what we do not need is for every idea to be shot down before it gets off the ground. What we do need is for all of us to work together to recognize where we are as a county and what is possible. For example, to solve a parking problem, the answer is not to close businesses, but to find more parking area. I can think of no place I would rather call home than Coosa County.
We do have a lot of people working hard to improve things. Our fire department volunteers take a lot of time away from their families to provide emergency services. Our mayors and council members are working things in our towns. Mayor Caldwell was instrumental in helping us obtain a Veterans Service Office that will soon be open a few days each week. Mayor Sharpe is working to build a first-class community center in Kellyton. Mayor White is working to bring activities to Rockford and improve the windshield appearance of the town. The commissioners and County Engineer Eason work hard to spread limited funds to improve the roads. However, we can’t afford to do these things in a vacuum. We all need to work together and collaborate with one goal, to make Coosa County the best county in the state.
When we sit down to our Thanksgiving dinner next week, think about these things. In addition to family and friends, be thankful for all the good things, thankful to all our volunteers, thankful that you live in Coosa County. Then make a resolution to be more active and involved in your community and our county. Look for ways you can help improve our county. Don’t get caught in a rut by always looking from one perspective; adjust your outlook to see what can be.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, and until next month; take care and God bless!
