A friend of mine and I more recently got into a heated discussion over the subject of optimism and pessimism due to the simple fact that I had proudly proclaimed to be a realist. She said to me in an optimistic tone of voice, “If one claims to be a realist they are merely attempting to camouflage a pessimistic heart”. Me? A pessimist? That just could not be! I took a moment to mull over the idea that I might have possibly been lying to myself my entire adult life about my cheery but realistic disposition or lack thereof. I suppose that this a rather common subject many individuals encounter, but then possibly shrug their shoulders over the whole boring deal and move on with life. Not me, oh no, my brain simply won’t allow a single thought to rest. It was then that I realized it isn’t all that necessary to allow myself to become pigeonholed. I am too complex and stubborn to openly admit to anyone and everyone that I am one particular footnote in a giant world of song by classifying all or most of my emotional responses to a single definition, nor do I believe that I do all of the time. More simply put, some people have a tendency to hope for the best and some for the worst, some of the time, but as unique individuals whom encounter an array of unpredictable experiences on a daily basis our responses are not always going to fall into a single order of emotion, unless of course you are a robot.

I have come to the conclusion that I will no longer proclaim that I am a realist, pessimist, optimist or a cynic. I will instead be honest with myself and follow my heart’s emotion to the place where experience’s situational influence leads. If ever again asked what I consider myself to be I suppose I might feel the need to admit I am a non-conformist, better yet, if there is a next time, I think I will plan on keeping my mouth shut.