Bright and Dark Days

In my sixteen years of life, I have learned that there are going to be good and bad days. We are always going to have obstacles and challenges, ups and downs. The important thing, in my opinion, is to never give up a

nd always have faith. In order for this to happen one has to be optimistic. For me it’s hard to be optimistic, because I rather accept the harsh truth than avoid it by telling my self that everything is going to be all right. Dr. Pangloss, the greatest philosopher in Westphalia, truly believes that men live in “the best of all possible worlds.” James, Candide, and Pangloss survive from a storm but right after that they are hit be an earthquake. “Thirty thousand men, women and children were crushed to death under the ruins.” (Pg. 33) After seeing so many people die in front of you, you start losing hope and only start thinking on the worse. At this moment Candide was desperate since they were ruins and had nothing to eat. Even at this momentof agony and desperation, Panglass stayed positive by seeing the cup half full. “…is a manifestation of the rightness of things, since if there is a volcano at Lisbon it could not be anywhere else. For it is impossible for things not to be where they are, because everything is for the best.” (Pg. 35) How could he be so optimistic, standing on a ruined city? How is he able to maintain hope, while the others are desperate and believe that there’s a better world than this?

In life there are always going to be rough paths, but one has to learn to accept them and try to make the best out of it. Once something happens you have to accept it, you can try to change it but you can’t make it disappear. I believe that every time one door is closed a new one is opened. Bad things come with good things as well. Isn’t there always a rainbow after a storm? I believe that Pangloss is a good role model, because no matter the circumstances, he is always making the best out of it. If we could learn to live life like him we will be less stressed out and maybe be able to solve the problems easier. At the same time I don’t believe that one should always be optimistic, because at one time or another you aregoingto have to accept the ugly truth and you are not going to be able to change even though you are trying the best to accomplish it. Because good things always come to an end, don’t they?