Sometimes I worry I’m too much of an optimist. That may seem like a weird thing to worry about, but there are times when I’m afraid I’m going to say something inappropriately cheerful. A few weeks ago I was at a party and talking to a guy who was lamenting his pending divorce which was forcing him to look for a new place to live, and I said, “Well, on the bright side…” The entire room went silent. You could hear a pin drop, which is a neat trick on carpet. Then another guy said, “Oh, I’ve gotta hear this.” And I said that with all the construction and changes going on in Nashville there were a lot of new places around. The guy getting the divorce said, “Yeah, that is a good thing.” In fact my ability to find a bright side to even the worst news sometimes makes me think I should rent myself out as a professional cheerer-upper and “Well, on the bright side” is something I say so often anyway it could be my tagline, but that’s another story.
Bringing up all the construction going on around Nashville reminded me of a period of about three months when I had to change my daily walk to the bus. A whole city block was being torn down and rebuilt to put in some new apartments and businesses. It bugged me because I had to leave work earlier, which meant I also had to get to work earlier, and walk farther. It also bugged me that the construction was blocking city sidewalks and a whole section of the street for months. On the bright side, though, it gave me an excuse to get more daily exercise. And then I worry that I really shouldn’t need an excuse.
Don’t worry, Chris. Thanks for the sunny side.
I appreciate your comments helping me stay on the sunny side.
I can see the worst in any situation, and that puts me in awkward situations A LOT. On the bright side, I’m a pro at awkward situations. And look what you made me do.
There’s value in seeing the worst in any situation, though, because it means you can be prepared for the worst. Hey, look at that. I found the bright side in seeing the worst side.
As Eric Idle wrote in Life of Brian, “always look on the bright side of life.” Even when it’s hilariously inappropriate. 😉
Where would we be without the wisdom of Eric Idle and the other Pythons? Probably the same place we are now but the bright side would be a lot dimmer.