Defining Moments: Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

Posted by Passionatelibra August 17, 2009 at 2:38 p.m.

Defining Moments: Is Your Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

The first day of school has come and gone and in my house, that’s the official end to summer. I don’t know about anyone else but this summer was definitely more exciting and action packed than previous ones.

We’ve had an unexpected out of state guest (teenager) dropped on our doorstep and it took several weeks to track down his mom and get him picked up. We moved to a bigger place (rained the whole time) and our car was totaled. There were several little things that occurred as well but those were the big three. Out of those three, I believe the car accident is the defining moment of our summer.

First off, we were not at fault. The other person ran a stop sign and bam! I tried to stop but it was completely unavoidable. I had my Son and his friend in my car and I did everything I could think of to protect them. I think it worked because I am the only one who is seeing the doctor. The kids didn’t even have a sore muscle. My poor car did not make it.

Standing on that street corner waiting for the tow truck and talking to my Son, we quickly decided that we would be fine without another car for a while. He walks everywhere and I have no problem taking the bus. We’ll save on car payments, gas and maintenance. Believe me, my budget can handle that. Heck, I can handle a little breathing room in my oh so tight budget.

I thought I wouldn’t have to worry about insurance payments either but then I quickly learned that if I have a lapse in coverage, no matter the reason, when I get another car I will end up paying a higher premium. What??? They explained it all to me (insurance scores) and I understand it, doesn’t mean I like it, but I understand it.

I also must say that this experience showed me that I made a very good choice when it came to who I chose as my insurance company. They walked me through everything with so much patience and understanding. I wasn’t a hysterical or angry person, I was someone who was determined to understand what was happening and why. Especially when I found out how my insurance company was going to have to eat the cost of my doctor’s visits. Thank you Kansas laws (total sarcasm).

When I look at everything that happened this past summer I see some things that could have really thrown us for a loop and the one thing that could have caused total chaos in my house, actually turned out to be a blessing (and learning experience) in disguise. The best way I can say it is by this short story:

My Son and I were walking downtown from the library to the bus stop. We passed a couple of guys playing music for tips. One stops mid-song and asks me, “Is your glass half full or is it half empty?” Without hesitation I answered, “Half full of course!” Our food budget was stretched extremely thin with unexpected company, but a co-worker surprised us with leftovers from a shindig that she had. That fed us for a week. The move to another apartment had to happen in a very tight window of time and it thunder stormed during most of it, but we kept moving while laughing and joking around. Our car was totaled but we were able to walk away when I kept hearing that we should have been in the hospital.

Yep, our glass is half full; we just have to make sure we keep looking at it that way.

Did you have a defining moment this summer? As we start to ease into fall, is your glass half full or half empty?

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beatrice (anonymous) says…

"Is your glass half full or half empty?"

Depends on whether I'm pouring or I'm drinking.
August 17, 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
schula (anonymous) says…

I don't know that I have a defining moment for the summer, but would say my glass is "half full". I am blessed with lots of friends that are always there when I need them. I am getting ready for a full fall working my part time job at Crowd Systems. Can't wait for KU football and basketball to get started.
August 17, 2009 at 3:16 p.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

Definitely half full. I am a very lucky woman and I know it and I am grateful for it. I believed that I was saved though the grace of God which is something that is not earned but given.
I hope that does not offend anyone.
Life for me could be a great deal different, not only for me but for my family. Yet we have come though it and are a stronger and better family for it.
My faith is stronger for it.
Great blog Libra Lady.
August 17, 2009 at 4:09 p.m.
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August 17, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
careyrowland (anonymous) says…

Hey passionatelibra.
Thanks for your upbeat perspective. I came across it online, even though I live in North Carolina.

Re your situation after the car wreck, in which you "would be fine without another car for a while. He walks everywhere and I have no problem taking the bus. We’ll save on car payments, gas and maintenance."

This is a great opportunity. When you're riding bus, you're not only saving gas money, and saving our atmosphere another dose of particulates and carbon emissions, and maybe making some new friends along the way--you can even read a book or some work-related documents while you ride, instead of having to deal with the drive, the red lights, the traffic, the frustration, etc.

Maybe it's an adjustment you should get use to.

My defining moment for this summer came when I got laid off from a teaching job. The bright side is now I get to be a bus driver, and greet people who can appreciate the bus because they (perhaps) lost the use of their car.

Here's another bright spot. My two daughters attended the University of North Carolina. (Thanks for sending us two great coaches.) We look forward to meeting you Jayhawks next April in the Final Four.

Cheerio!

Carey Rowland, author of Glass half-Full
August 17, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
justbegintowrite (Ronda Miller) says…

I'm bad, I'm bad...without meaning to be bad! :)

Thanks, Jonathan!

passion,

I think all of us can say our glasses are filled to overflowing! We don't have to stick with half full or half empty.

I know I have a terrific life in comparison to 99 percent of the people in the world. I have air conditioning, heat, a roof over my head, food in a refrigerator and a car, two lovely children.

I am having a difficult time adjusting to being an empty nester which will occur later this month, but I am also looking forward to the next chapter of my life. So many things to do and so little time.

Good for you for always making the most of life's challenges. You serve by example!
August 17, 2009 at 5:29 p.m.
passionatelibra (anonymous) says…

Irish and schula - Thank you for sharing! Having loving friends and family can definitely alter a persons perspective on their life.

Carey - I don't know how you found us from N.C. but I am glad you did! I've been making note of my moods and perspective since the accident and this is what I've noticed:

I'm in a better mood because I don't feel I have to rush every where. I am happier because I am not stressing about money as much. Life isn't on Easy Street but it is on Breathe Easier Street.

I am talking with my Son more than I was before. We talked in the car but the radio usually distracted us or I was stressed because I was rushing. Now, we walk to the store and talk the whole way. We also talk on the bus about things we are noticing that we hadn't before.

I tried reading on the bus and I tried playing tetris on my Son's DS but I got motion sick. So now I say good morning to the regular faces and smile at the new ones. Today I caught myself saying hello and good afternoon to people I passed on campus while walking to the bus stop and waiting for the bus!

I am glad to hear you were able to find another job and was also able to see the bright side of it. I love the way you said, "... now I GET to be a bus driver..." instead of "now I HAVE to be a bus driver". That is an awesome way to see it :o)

Thanks for writing and see you in the final four!
August 17, 2009 at 7:41 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

Even when my glass seems empty, I know it will be full again.....

No night is so dark that the sun will not rise........
August 17, 2009 at 7:48 p.m.
passionatelibra (anonymous) says…

Ronda - Thank you for fixing that! I didn't see it as bad just as an oops :o)

I love the saying of half full or half empty. It really gives you perspective on whether someone is feeling positive or negative. Yes, my cup runneth over but this summer, I had to make a conscious decision to be a half full kind of person. It would have been to easy to get overwhelmed if I didn't. Something just told me that we would be just fine.

It sounds to me like you are starting to adjust to being an empty nester. I've heard of people planning special trips or to redecorate a room when their kids have left. Something tells me that you have loved ones who will also try to help you through it!
August 17, 2009 at 7:59 p.m.
passionatelibra (anonymous) says…

Roe - Did you write that or did you read it somewhere? Those two quotes are beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. Now I need to write those out and hang them up somewhere that I can see them every day. That way I will always remember :o)
August 17, 2009 at 8:01 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

They just now popped into my head, inspired by your blog and the other posts...

but the second one seems vaguely familiar,....Confucius??
August 17, 2009 at 8:12 p.m.
notajayhawk (anonymous) says…

- An optimist says the glass is half full.

- A pessimist says the glass is half empty.

- A pragmatist says the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

I heard on the radio that glass-half-full people live longer - something about having lower blood pressure. On the other hand, we all know correlation can't prove causation; maybe people with high blood pressure have more to be pessimistic about.
August 17, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…

Just discovered this morning that after 40 our brain cells die off at approx. 10,000 per day. Could it be my head is half empty or half full?
August 18, 2009 at 5:50 a.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

Hey, I ordered a cheezeburger!
August 18, 2009 at 6:12 a.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

Libra, there are many people that I call my bus friends and we say hi to each other. I also like talking to the drivers.
One introduced me to the Aubrey/Maturin books and that whole world.
Another talks football with me.
I have got off the bus and waved bye to everyone and had them wave back. That is very nice.
August 18, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…

Ronda, could you send me a private message and tell me what you did wrong? I am perishing of curiosity.
Thanks.
August 18, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.