to be a realist or pessimist

that is the question for thee

In my life-walk, I work with multiples of individuals and companies; one of my daily functions being a technical service advisor. And in the day-to-day, I’m stunned beyond belief when those who claim to know or understand metal building construction and don’t know what they’re doing. Worse, in their ignorance, they’re assisting others who have no idea. Thus, mixing in every issue resolved over the years with the complexities of idiocy I work around, Barbara labeled me a pessimist. To which, I believe otherwise.

Conversely, in my daily activities, I begin each morning rooted in the Bible. My goal: read through the entirety in a year, thus continually evolving into a better person. Anyway, I’ve read through twice; two years running. Each time bringing forth a new perspective of life, beliefs, and the constant endeavor to ascertain truth. Believe me, living with cancer daily forces the mind to reach for purpose, reason, and why. Not the “why me,” but. And in such, one of, if not my favorite books in the Bible: Ecclesiastes.

So, when Barbara presented me with a Bible study of Ecclesiastes, I jumped. And the author, in the first study presented the water glass analogy: half full (optimist), half empty (pessimist) to convey the premise of Ecclesiastes, pessimism. Now, I mentioned Barbara believes me a pessimist, while I believe myself a realist, asking: Is the glass half-empty because someone consumed the water, or half-full because it was only filled that much? For me, determining first how the glass ended up being half thereof sets the stage for anything in life. Things really are that simple. Complications present when one either does not understand what they are doing, or another is working to dupe one into believing a lie as truth. Life being that simple, just not easy: It’s hard. Because if life was easy, everyone would master it. But understand, hard work bears results, much like deception. But each, the antithesis of the other.

The begging question to everything: “Is it all meaningless?”

For perspective, I believe earth comprises two worlds: religious and secular. Although, for some, secular is both worlds, finding their religion in the inanimate. A free-flowing purposeless standing of anything goes. Whereas those who “believe” need to differentiate with an ability to live in both worlds congruently allowing one to find truth: “Believing is seeing.” And one will never find such unless they do the hard work and learn. The vicious cycle of understanding reality.

Anyway, 2025 is here, and the country is less than a month from a transition of power. But does it matter? Will anything actually change? Is the national course set; party power defining national direction? Example: President Carter recently passed and watching the news brought some of his past speeches to the forefront. His words then repeated ad nauseum, by those before him and after him by multiples of individuals claiming authorship of. Words of which he’d repeated others. Which brings Ecclesiastes: What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun! Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of past generations, nor will future generations be remembered by those who come after them (1:9-11). Thus: “If one does not learn history, history will repeat.” And those who believe party being the answer, and not the Constitution, then I suggest, read Ecclesiastes: You’ve been duped. And yes Barbara, I am a realist!