TresSugar

Are You Having a Hard Time Being Optimistic?

DearSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:30:00 -0800

When I asked you a while back if you were a pessimist or an optimist, most of you owned up to being a realist, but now that the going is getting tough and life feels grim, I'm wondering if you're finding yourself being more pessimistic. If this sounds familiar, you might want to know that according to a recent study, optimistic women actually live longer, so it's time to look at that glass as half full, not half empty!

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh looked at more than 100,000 women over age 50 and found that after eight years, optimistic women were 14 percent more likely to be alive over the pessimists they studied. Though many factors played into those results, Dr. Hilary Tindle, who headed this study, stated:

. . . optimistic people have more friends and a larger social network on which they can rely during crises; they also tend to cope better on their own with stress, a risk factor that has been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and early death in previous studies.

I think it's pretty obvious that looking on the bright side makes everything a lot easier, but tell me, are you struggling to do that now with so much uncertainty in the air?

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Dear Poll: Are You an Optimist or a Pessimist?

DearSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:00:00 -0700

It's an eternal question and one of the most telling adjectives you can use to describe someone's personality. So tell me, are you a glass half full or a glass half empty kind of gal?

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Come on Get Happy! Optimistic Women Live Longer

TresSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Learned Optimism is one of the best books I've read in a while. Psychologist Martin Seligman explores how optimists - those who believe that life's setbacks are only temporary - can avoid depression, improve their health, and enjoy an overall better quality of life.

Now a new scientific study, which shows that optimistic women have a lower risk of heart disease and death, supports Seligman's argument. Taking risk factors into account, the study concluded that an optimistic attitude alone can significantly lower the risk of dying of heart disease. The research suggests that optimistic women are better at dealing with adversity and are more likely to take care of themselves when they get ill.

One of the most important lessons I took away from Seligman's book is that we can escape pessimism and, you guessed it, learn optimism. So it's never to late to embrace the idea that there's always something better around the corner. Doing so might just help you live longer!

Americans Are Optimistic About 2009 - Are You?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:45:00 -0800

Despite the recession and shaky economy, most Americans are optimistic about what lies ahead in 2009. A new poll shows expectations for better conditions were higher among younger generations with 64 percent of those under 45 having an optimistic view.

Younger Americans were more likely to adopt New Year's resolutions as well. More than half of those aged 45 or younger plan to adopt lifestyle changes next year, compared with 29 percent of those 45 or older.

Last week, CitizenSugar readers shared suggestions for America's New Year's resolutions, with an emphasis on fixing the economy and international relations. There's certainly some change in the works - are you still feeling fine with 2009?

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Are You Satisfied? The World's Most Optimistic Countries

LibertySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Satisfied with the direction your country is headed? The Chinese sure are. The rising nation tops the list of optimistic countries with a glass much more full than those of trailing countries. Eighty-six percent of the Chinese are content with China's direction, compared to 61 percent in second place Australia, according to the Pew Research Center. Eighty-two percent of the Chinese are also happy with their economy.

Economic growth and national excitement surrounding the Beijing Olympics seems to be boosting China's civic mood - in 2002, only 48 percent of the Chinese responded positively. But the people still have their concerns, most notably, worries about inflation, rising prices, and environmental degradation burden the Chinese.

To see how other countries compare to China, and who makes the list of the top-10 most optimistic countries read more.

Who is happy with the direction their country is headed?

China - 86 percent content
Australia - 61 percent content
Russia - 54 percent content
Spain - 50 percent content
Jordan - 49 percent content
Poland - 42 percent content
India - 41 percent content
Egypt - 40 percent content
South Africa - 36 percent content
Germany - 34 percent content

And some other favorites:

France - 29 percent content
United States - 23 percent content
Lebanon - 6 percent content

With China and Russia on top and the US and France decidedly not - do any of the placements surprise you?

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A Majority of Iraqis Are Optimistic, Says Poll

CitizenSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:02:24 -0700

According to a recent poll of more than 2,000 Iraqis, more than 50 percent think their lives are good, better than any time in the last three years. The findings also suggest that a majority believe that security in their area has improved since 2007.

While most Iraqis still believe US troops are making things worse, the number who want the Americans to pull out immediately has fallen, with strong division among Iraq's main ethnic groups.

Fifty-five percent of all Iraqis believe that their lives are good, but only 33 percent of Sunnis are happy with their lives, compared with 62 percent of Shias and 73 percent of Kurds, showing that the Sunni population still remains alienated. However, 62 percent of all those polled say security in their own area is good, up from 43 percent last year.

As a testament to the strength of their optimism in the face of adversity, this picture shows Iraqi security forces today, gathered around the wreckage of a car bomb explosion in central Baghdad's Nidal Street. Two people were killed and eight others were wounded in the blast.

What do you think of these findings? Do you think Iraqis are optimistic because of US efforts there or in spite of them?

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Ask a Gay Woman: I'm Bisexual - How Do I Come Out?

TresSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. If you have a question you'd like answered on Conventional Wisdom, you can submit it here.

This week, an out and proud gay woman helps a 16-year-old girl figure out how to come out. After you read her answer, be sure to check out TrèsSugar's Lesbian and Bisexual Support Group in the community, as well as TrèsSugar's Group Therapy group where I found this question.

Today's question: "I'm a 16-year-old girl who's currently in a relationship with a boy. I'm taking college classes along with my high school ones, and I have poetry that's published. People tell me everyday that I'm gorgeous and absolutely amazing. My downfall? If they knew I was bisexual, I would be alone. I've come out to three of my gay friends, but that's it. I was voted most optimistic for favorites, but people don't know how really miserable I am. I'm in love with a girl, and I want to give myself to her completely. To kiss her, to hold her. But I don't want to be hidden, and I don't want to lose everything I have. HELP ME, I'M BEGGING. Signed, Tormented."

To hear what a gay woman has to say, read more.

Dear Tormented,

I know what you are going through is hard and scary. When I was growing up I felt very confused about the intense feelings I had for other girls, and I couldn't even admit to myself that I was bi or gay, let alone anyone else. So first and foremost I just want to say that you are very strong and brave to admit these feelings to yourself and reach out. Please don't take your fear as a sign that you can't handle this - if you couldn't handle it I think you would have buried it way down and not even bring it up as a possibility. There are a few different things about your worries that I want to address:

First, before you decide how to handle your feelings about this other girl, you have to figure out your feelings for your boyfriend. Do you really want to be with him? Or are you just being with him because it is safe and simple? It is too hard to figure out how you are feeling about your sexuality and the girl you say you are in love with if it is all wrapped up with shame and secrecy about possibly cheating on the person you are dating. If you know deep down that it is someone else and not him you want to be with, then break up with him. You don't have to tell him all the details of why you are ending it - just that it isn't working for you right now. Then you can have some space and time to think through the issue of your bisexuality without the anxiety of betrayal.

Secondly, I am not sure exactly what kind of community and family you are living in, so it is hard for me to address how real your concerns are that you will lose "everything." It sounds like you have some gay friends, which means people are out in your community and you have some support, so I think you should consider that maybe after the initial shock this wouldn't be as devastating as you think. Definitely it is still not the total norm, but living in fear that you won't be accepted is making you miserable, so I am not sure that finding out that certain people will be fine with it and others won't be could be that much worse. But I think you need to talk to some people you trust to help you figure out how to best handle your specific situation. If there is a gay and lesbian community center in your town you could get some confidential advice from someone. There are also some good websites: Sex Etc. (a website about sex run by and for teens) and this Planned Parenthood teen talk blog.

The most important thing is to know that you are absolutely not alone with this, that a lot of people go through this, that you will be OK, and that there is a lot of support for you out there.

Signed,

A Gay Woman

Front Page: Swine Flu Spreads but Health Officials Optimistic

TresSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 08:00:54 -0700

The US now has 226 confirmed cases of swine flu in 30 states, but health officials are hopeful. - New York Times
Today the Obama administration will unveil a plan to rein in corporations using offshore accounts to dodge taxes. - Wall Street Journal
Amid ongoing union talks, Boston Globe management warns of a possible shutdown. - CNN
Some Catholics are upset by the church's "outlandish" portrayal in the new film, Angels and Demons. - UK Telegraph
Veronica Lario, the wife of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, wants a divorce, citing constant flirtations with younger women. - AP
In case you missed it, former New York congressman and pro football player Jack Kemp died this weekend at the age of 73. - Los Angeles Times

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Meghan McCain and Stephen Colbert Have a Sex Talk

TresSugar — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Meghan McCain went on The Colbert Report last night to talk sex and the Republican Party. She sounded optimistic about the party's future, saying she's a prosex, pro-life woman and a pro-gay-marriage Republican. Of course, Stephen asked her what incentive he would have to get married if can just gay-marry and "hang out with dudes" all the time.

While she took a slam at Briston Palin's "abstinence tour," she maintained there is one thing about the campaign she won't comment on - Sarah Palin. Not even when Stephen asked her to comment on that comment!

Should Obama Sound More Hopeful?

LibertySugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:30:34 -0800

President Obama can't seem to catch a break from the Clintons when it comes to this "hope" thing. During the primaries, Hillary mocked him saying:

The skies will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect. Maybe I’ve just lived a little long, but I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be.

Now that he has the job, Bill wants Obama to sounds more hopeful. In a new interview with ABC, the president from Hope, AR said he:

[Liked] the fact that [Obama] didn't come in and give us a bunch of happy talk. I'm glad he shot straight with us. . . . I just want the American people to know that he's confident that we are gonna get out of this and he feels good about the long run. . . . I like trying to educate the American people about the dimensions and scope of this economic crisis. . . . I just would like him to end by saying that he is hopeful and completely convinced we're gonna come through this.

It's true that since his victory speech on election night Obama's been peddling somberness much more than hope. Would you like to see the president be more optimistic when it comes to the economy?