by Lora Lee F. Reboton

Is the glass half-full or half-empty? We all had been asked this question somewhere, or sometime in our lives. Textbooks, even Internet articles, would say that how you answer it gives a peek into the points of view that you take in life. And, to a certain extent, of your attitude towards life in general.

When faced by a situation that expects the best foot forward, the optimistic choice sounds more logical, especially if something important depends on it—relationship, health, career, failure, success, etc. On the flipside, some people, because of challenges, tend to view things with less hope.  

Positive or otherwise, like I said, the perspectives taken are usually influenced by several factors. Personal background, belief, education, social circles, among many others. What would spell the difference, however, is how ready you are to come to terms with your choice, and squarely face all of its consequences. 

Let me give some examples: first, typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. Mother Nature undoubtedly unleashed a beating on the nation during the days these storms hit the Philippines one after the other. This, I’m sure, caused many to wonder “why”.  This twin of a disaster both brought harrowing experiences that we thought happen only in movies, to those stricken. Likewise, there were the heartwarming heroic gestures by Filipinos that we knew only Darna and Captain Barbel would have the supernatural strength to do. So while it is true that our country is left wrought with so much losses in lives and property, we are assured, nevertheless that

Filipinos still care for fellow Filipinos, notwithstanding social status, faith, political leanings, reputation, location, etc.

Allow me to be more personal with the second example. Not many will know that I am attending graduate school now.  For someone who has last been in a formal classroom almost two decades ago, is raising three small children, and is a working mom, to say that travelling from Makati to Diliman four nights a week and keeping up with teachers who think Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting and Quantitative Analysis are too little a load for a first year MBA student is very difficult, would be an understatement. Just to enumerate, I’ve had to lessen quality time with my family, cut back on spending for my personal pleasures, and lose out on a lot of sleep. I even refrained from celebrating my birthday this year because I had to study for the finals the following day! But I wasn’t alone. I have almost 10 classmates who have either dropped out, or filed for a leave already. And that’s just first term yet.

I wouldn’t deny that I thought of quitting too.  But I couldn’t stand the thought of “what could have been” if I did, especially because of the amount of time already lost.  So I just persisted, and I survived. I am now on my second term and going full steam ahead.

The point is, if I stopped because I couldn’t adjust, when will I ever?  It was only when I realized this—only when I changed my perspective—did I loosen up and start to settle.

We all face similar circumstances day in and day out. Some are easy to get through, while others are a tad more challenging than normal. Still, some would tug at the foundations that we stand on. But oblige me, please, to ask you: black or white, yes or no, live or die, love or hate, friend or foe? Is the glass half-full or half-empty?