“I feel a blog post coming on.” For once, it wasn’t me who said it, though it turns out I have to write it anyway. My son lounged in bed, brushing toast crumbs out of his beard. Me, I was poised like a miniature Statue of Liberty in front of the window.
We had been talking over morning coffee, as usual, discussing the difference a slight shift in perspective can make to how you see the world. I had picked up the glass, ready to take through to the kitchen and with his glass in my hand, it was obvious what was coming next.
“It’s the old ‘glass half full’ thing, isn’t it?” I asked, not expecting much of an answer; it is an old one, after all. He grunted something vaguely affirmative. I considered the empty glass, holding it up to the light. “So, is this glass half empty or half full?”
He wasn’t going to be caught out. We’ve covered this question before. “Neither. It’s full of air.”
“But…it appears to be empty…” So does life, to anyone in the pit of despair. “So, what is it full of?”
“Molecules…atoms…”
“Whole universes…”
“…where life could have arisen as we speak…”
“Arisen, evolved…played out lives full of joy and tragedy…” Being so infinitesimally small, a second for us would be infinity for the creatures in such a universe. Anything could happen there and how would we know? “So the empty-looking glass is full of life…”
“…we just can’t see it.” Which was pretty much the point I was making. No matter how empty the proverbial glass may seem, it is always full of life in potential. “Science backs that up too…” He cocked his head. ” I can see the glass too. That’s pretty amazing in itself, when you think about it. A blessing.”
“More than that, you can see a hand holding the glass…. ” Which means that you are not alone.
“Yeah, but it might be your own hand…though that means you can move…”
“And through it, you can see the garden…and the birds and the sunlight…” So, a glass full of all the possibilities of life, surrounded by all the beauty of the world and held by the miracle of our own human lives. And all it takes is a shift in perspective to be able to see it.
That is not so easy for someone who is lonely, struggling or suffering from depression. Contrary to what some people still appear to think, you cannot just ‘pull yourself together’ or ‘snap out of it’… and it is not ‘simply a matter of choice’.
“So, when you find yourself looking at that proverbial empty glass, it might just hold more than you first think.”
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
So full of positivity! Love this post Sue!
LikeLike
Thanks, Ritu. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too true.
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truth is in the mind of the beholder. But we can imagine, encourage and bend someone’s idea of truth. Spinning words to make a thread knit a thought in to a story. All the above is possible, plausible and positivity pushes the boundaries between half empty and half full.
LikeLike
It only takes a small side step to see things from a different angle. And sometimes, that is enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the most complete series of thoughts on any empty glass ! Profound.
LikeLike
I do enjoy those morning moments talking with Nick 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So well said, and illustrated. Started my morning out on a very positive note, just what I needed. Have sent this glassful of possibilities out into the world to be passed along by others. Thanks Sue, and have a great day!
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Marcia 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful post, Sue. Positivity!
LikeLike
Thanks, Jennie. If only we recorded these conversations…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like your way of thinking, Sue. It certainly makes me realise how easy it is to look at things without trying another perspective! 🙂
LikeLike
It doesn’t need a big shift to make a big difference sometimes 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very uplifting and life-affirming post, Sue. Thanks!
LikeLike
Thanks, Eliza… Nick wanted it written down 🙂
LikeLike
Give him my best… ❤ (It's maple sugaring season here, so I've been thinking of him. 😉 )
LikeLike
Ah… I’ll tell him that 🙂 Wonder ifyou can get the stuff here?
LikeLike
I think he tried looking. It’s the shipping that is so dear, it costs twice the product! 😦
LikeLike
I think I’ll put brandy in mine to stop my head spinning after reading that!
LikeLike
I told him mine would only be empty if I’d drunk it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely thoughts, Sue. 🙂 — Suzanne
LikeLike
Thanks, Suzanne.
LikeLike
Simply lovely discussion. As I get older (and older and older) the glass seems half full most often except when the pains of old age make it seem pretty empty. Thanks for the encouragement in your post to count my blessings.
LikeLike