I had a short conversation the other day with a friend about staying positive in a negative world. And it got me thinking How do we find the right balance? Sure, staying positive sounds great. We need to be someone other people want to be around, smiling is always better. I personally try to find ways to laugh in almost every situation. But how, or when, do we decide we want to effect some change in the world? Being positive doesn't mean being complacent, although it might feel like it. Being negative about something doesn't mean you want nothing to do with it, although it might look like it to others. Maybe it means you care enough to want to help or do something about it. I have always believed it does no good to complain about something without offering a solution. Otherwise you're just complaining, and that's definitely negative. Maybe the line is perceived offensiveness. People seem to be offended awfully easy these days. I suppose growing up in the 60's and 70's has something to do with my take on things, but we all are a product of our upbringing. Of course making and taking things too personally
can get us all in trouble, and we should always try to keep some perspective.
As a songwriter, we're taught to write in 3rd person if the point or story is too negative, so the singer doesn't take the blame. It was that other guy who was cheating. And if you listen to the radio today, we're all REALLY HAPPY. I'm just not sure that's completely true. Life is still life, ups are still ups, and downs are still downs. Changes can still be brought by rallying people around an idea or cause, and solutions can be found in the simplest of places. Sometimes being too close to a given situation keeps you from gaining a proper perspective. The old Can't see the forest for the trees problem. I find that if you stop, step back, don't take it personally, and look at the big picture, the solution is sometimes right in front of you.
The proper balance is probably a little of both. Certainly being, acting, sounding positive is a much more pleasing condition. After all, you want people to listen. But I don't think it's a bad thing to not be completely satisfied either. I've never been a go along to get along kind of person, and I'm sure it shows sometimes. But if everybody was always happy with everything, we'd all still be living in caves. It seems that seeming positive is the key.
I don't know if I have helped any, but I am positive I am finished.
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