I think there's a fine line between thinking the glass is half full, and noting that the glass needs refilling. I'm a fairly (understatement) optimistic person, I believe in the greater good, the power of one's self, the ability to do anything, he who can win all wars, never look back, the sky has no limit -kind of person, so obviously it's a little hard for me at first to understand why people are sometimes so sad. When I empathise and put my self in another person's shoes, and grasp what they're going through, I can easily understand their situation. But it wasn't until today, that I realised there is such a fine line between being optimistic, and being real. Take South Africa for instance, people say you have to realise that crime getting worse is a reality, but on the other hand, I say, you've also got to realise that in the past twelve years, our country has given water, homes and hundreds of other benefits to hundreds of thousands of people, making their life enormously better. Sure, there is a bad, but there also is good. You can't only look one-sided-ly at things, it does nothing to bring about a solution. This realisation came about a few hours ago when watching Troy on TV. I asked myself, would I do what Paris did and take away Helen of Sparta? And in doing so risk the lives of my countrymen, and demolishing peace in my homeland by starting a blood-filled war. I answered yes, but only if I knew I was going to win the war. Then I realised that me, in all my arrogance, would think I could win any war. So is this being optimistic, and having faith in my country's monolithic army? Or is it just madness not to think about the reality that eventually destroyed Troy? You have to believe in yourself and in your country, it's my way of life. I'm determined to see my country through anything, and I believe that I can do anything. I believe in the power of dreams, and how striving towards something is a greater goal. But when does reality sink in so deep that it starts tearing apart your dreams? One has to be able to face the facts. It's insane not to. But making reality sink in sometimes deters us from our goals. I feel that optimism is the top-tier in a happy life, and as you go down, there's reality, and then pessimism; which ultimately makes you see things in a sinister light, where happiness is blurred by as the light too hot to touch. It's such a fine line.