Half and Half

I like half and half – in my coffee.  But that’s not what this little story is about.  We’ll discuss coffee at another time.

We’re gonna chat about something that has always bothered me.  I know you just can’t wait to find out what it is.

I have never liked the “do you see the glass half-full or half-empty” thing.  I have always felt like those who see it as “half-full” were considered superior to those who see it as “half-empty.”  As though those who see it as “half-full” are the eternal optimists, the happy ones, the ones who have a better outlook on things, the people you want to be around, that you’ll like more, who aren’t as miserable, etc., etc.

I wonder what makes a person see the glass as one way or the other.  From where did they gain their perspective?   I’m sure there’s some deep meaning to it all, and probably some birth-order-daddy-issue-how-you-were-raised-psychology in there somewhere.  But, I digress.

Perhaps those who see it as “half-empty” see it that way because they know it previously was full and someone has enjoyed half of it and gone about their merry way.  Maybe they aren’t so pessimistic after all.

Maybe we focus on the content of the glass too much.

Or, maybe not enough.

Maybe if we really focused on the contents of the glass, we would realize that the glass is always completely full.

When we are asked “is the glass half-full or half-empty” we all automatically assume that the question has to do with the water in the glass.  We look at it and see where the water line is and make our judgement call by the measurement we perceive. But let me give you a new perspective.  I will say it again:  the glass is always completely full.

“Full of what?” you ask

Air and Water

and we need both

It matters not how much of either are in the glass, the glass is always completely full.  If there is one drop of water in the glass, the glass is still completely full.  If the water is to the very top edge, the glass is still completely full.

So, you see, it is about perspective, but perhaps we need to change ours.

Chew on that a while…..