I used to date an economist who did his doctorate dissertation on optimism - he studied entrepreneurship and how optimism and resiliency are part of the make up of entrepreneurs who persevere until they succeed. He described himself as a cheerful pessimist (he has aspergers, so he was a complicated personality to understand). He designed personality tests and other such things, so I was often given tests, like on the first Valentines Day when we were dating, for him to find out things about me. Looking back, I think because he had aspergers, tests were his best way to understand people, being unable to read their body language or tone of voice.

I am an optimist, plodding forward toward aspirations in spite of obstacles like physical abuse, depression, poverty, rejection, isolation and illness. I think part of my ability to be an optimist is that even though life has handed me much pain and sadness, I don't dwell on it because it would be too hard to survive if I did.

Alice