The cup.

An age old question that gets asked every once in a while is this:  "To you, is the cup half empty or half full?"  Supposedly, depending on which way one were to answer, one could tell if the responder was an optimist (half full) or a pessimist (half empty).  I think all of us, at one time or the other...depending on what was going on in our life, have answered that question both ways.  In good times, happy times, content times we would say "half full".  In tough times, questionable times, bleak times we would say "half empty".

When talking about optimists and pessimists what we're really talking about is whether their general outlook on life itself is positive or negative.  I would guess that we've all known some on both sides.  Positive folks are enjoyable to be around.  They tend to be happier and more comfortable with themselves.  Negativers tend to be down, on themselves and everything around them, and often seem just plain unhappy.

Both optimists and pessimists tend to share an influence (as if by osmosis) with those around them.  Optimists tend to bring others up, while pessimists tend to bring others down.  Here is a truism that applies:

There is a cup, The Cup, that is never half full nor half empty.  It is always full.  It is the cup that serves to remind us of just how full (and overflowing) our cup really is...All.The.Time !  24/7/365 !  It is the communion cup, that cup which represents the blood of Jesus, the One who gave His life that we might have a life.....a good positive life no matter our circumstances. 

Perhaps when we are asked if our cup is half full or half empty we should, without hesitation, respond...."mine is completely overflowing"....with unconditional love and forgiveness.  What a great example for our kids and those around us, eh?