Today’s Daily Prompt is the old question “Is the glass half-full or half-empty?” There is of course a third possibility, that it is neither of these:
but only a pedant such as I would even consider such a thought! Actually, the science of that is beyond me anyway: given that I am blessed with the typical Virgo’s mind – logical, structured, boring – it’s a wonder I was always so bad at science when I was at school. But I was!
I’m rather hoping that the question is intended to be taken philosophically, rather than scientifically. At least that gives me a chance of answering it! The usual interpretation of the two approaches is:
Glass half-full = optimistic, positive
Glass half-empty = pessimistic, negative.
So what? Who’s to say if either of those is right or wrong? Actually, I think there’s a lot to be said for being a pessimist – that way, your expectations are likely at least to be met, if not exceeded, and that should be a cause for happiness shouldn’t it? So, following that logic (I told you I was like that) I believe this means that pessimists are generally happy people. Now, what was the question again?
Oh yes, whether the glass is half-full or empty. My answer is: it doesn’t matter. Whatever best suits you and your outlook on life is the right answer for you: no one has the right to judge you and tell you which way to think. Look at Twitter, as I do fairly frequently. How often do you see people there telling you that your attitude, approach or beliefs are wrong if you differ from them? That’s a matter of choice, not a reason to be judged. Unfortunately, those who are like that tend to be lacking in self-awareness and unable to debate sensibly – they just want to bully everyone into agreeing with them. So if they tell you what’s in the glass they must be right? Total crap! You have a right to believe what you want, however ‘wrong’ it may be when judged by societal norms. Other people can then choose to agree or disagree with you, to like or dislike you and your beliefs and attitude. The world isn’t about to be knocked off its axis because you have the temerity to disagree with someone or see things differently from them. Anything extreme is likely to be filtered out by the majority view anyway – whatever that is.
So, believe what you want to. Look at the glass whichever way you prefer. It’s your choice, and it’s what helps define you as a person. The answer to the question
Is the glass half-full or half-empty?
has to be:
YES!!
Hi Clive, love this post! It reminded me of a line was an American poet, Charles Wright (American Poet Laureate 2014) that says, “Empty and full have the same glass, though neither show you the way.” Like our maintaining our own perspectives, we equally have a right to find our own way forward from whatever that perspective is. I did a blog post once based on Wright’s poem, that i called Filling the Glass…that argued it that it doesn’t matter if it is half full or half empty but what we do to fill the glass that really matters. Anyway, thanks for the another post that made me think! Jo
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Hi Jo, glad you liked it. I’ll take a look at the one you mentioned: always interested to see someone else’s take on it! That was actually my ‘golden oldie’ post for this week’s Senior Salon, from 2023, but it’s a question that never goes away!
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Great choice of music to accompany the answer. Yup, no mTter the outlook life goes on.
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Best band ever, how could I not choose them!
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If a glass is half full of ice cold whisky and ginger, then as far as I’m concerned, within a short while it will be totally empty…
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Sounds like an idea for a new post: does whisky make you frisky, does gin make you sin! You reminded me of this one last week so I thought I’d use it as my ‘golden oldie’ for this week’s Senior Salon.
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being a Gemini..my glass is half empty today and half full tomorrow! I seem to move back and forth from realism to optimism and very occasional pessimism ..
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That sounds pretty well-balanced to me!
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Beautifully stated, it was as if you were in my own mind. Which could be a frightening thought considering… but you don’t know me yet so I’m going to pretend, for your sake, that it’s a good thing that we think alike. 😉 In the meantime, I enjoyed hearing the different, yet kindred, voice inside my head when reading your post. I look forward to your future posts.
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Many thanks – I’m not sure which of us should be frightened though! Both, maybe? It’s always good to find a kindred spirit and make a new blogfriend. I’m looking forward to catching up with your posts and to reading your new ones too. Nice to meet you 🙂
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Thanks for the mention and follow, and for the link from your site. I’ll return the compliment 🙂
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Pingback: Mine is half-full and I wish you the same | Daily Prompt: The Glass | Kaleidoscopic World in Words
Thanks for the mention 🙂
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Pingback: It Depends What’s In The Glass (Short story) | The Jittery Goat
Thanks for the mention 🙂
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Pingback: The Glass | Travellin' Thru Rambles
Thanks for the mention 🙂
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