We all have reasons to be negative, gloomy or down.  It is a natural part of the Human experience. Don't you just know it!  What distinguishes some, though, is how well we handle it.  

Through my life, I have had many many reasons to be down on myself, including almost too many failures.  Looking back though I can see that how I responded to some of those failures helped to define and improve my later life.  

One failure in particular caused me to hate my old self SO much that inorder to go on I was compelled to redesign myself, to avoid that dreadful feeling.  

Accepting and responding to a challenge shows character, which always shines through and is usually rewarding. 

Today I still have many challenges, including health, but I am happy to wake up in the morning to face the day and whatever challenges are presented.  One of the reasons therefor is that they show that I am still relevant.  

Is it a healthy rationalization or level headedness that I strive to find the bright side in a situation, no matter how difficult or challenging? 

As my friend Harvey Pollak reminded me, success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.  Always, it is down right axiomatic!

I tell my self, for instance, that I am fortunate that I am alive in this challenging period in our history and to have the opportunity to write my simple feelings in this weekly blog and, even more so, that some may read it.  

Up is Down and Down is Up!  Ponder what that says and means...