Seeing Pessimism’s Place in a Smiley-Faced World. Some psychologists have ‘had enough of the “tyranny of the positive attitude” which prescribes cheerfulness and optimism as a formula for

success, resilience and good health, and equates negativity

with failure, vulnerability and general unhealthiness…While positive thinking has its advantages, they argue, a

little whining now and then is not such a bad thing.

Pessimism, in some circumstances, may have its place. And

the unrelieved pressure to be upbeat, they assert, may gloss

over individual needs and differences, and may make some

people feel worse instead of better.’ New York TimesI’m reminded of what Douglas Adams said:

For a moment, he felt good about this.

A moment or two later he felt bad about feeling good about it.

Then he felt good about feeling bad about feeling

good about it and, satisfied, drove on into the night.

(So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish)