Most people would find the above claim difficult to accept. In fact if you surveyed groups of people and asked them whether they thought of themselves as an optimist, a pessimist or a realist, few would admit to being a pessimist, many would view themselves as optimists with most probably taking the conservative course of thinking of themselves as realists. The hovering eagle though has observed that such is not the case.
An optimist is one whose self- denial allows him to focus only on one possibility (his ideal). The pessimist sees the downside to most activities and avoids the path towards them, viewing everything else he does as (ideal). The realist views himself more balanced in life than either of the above and fools himself into thinking that his way is neither too optimistic nor too negative but rather , you guessed it (ideal). The idealist pursues with passion self- dilutions both mythical or real regardless of the cost to himself and others. The history books are full of such characters for good or for bad. Napoleon, Alexander the Great ,Stalin to name just a few.
If you’re a person in the habit of doing what you want, pursuing your own desires, being inclined neither for good or bad but rather pursuing the satisfying of self, preferring to be your own counsellor you may well be an idealist.
You see to a rabbit a warren is the ideal place to live , to a bear a den, a snake under a rock, a bird in a tree, a crab in the sand, a spider in a web and you and I in a house and so forth.
The optimist is often disappointed because his ideal scenario fails to eventuate much like a mouse sharing a rock with a snake.
The pessimist forgoes many an opportunity and probably has many regrets much like the hare and the tortoise.
The realist fails to recognise that no one can predict the immediate future with any kind of certainty thus while being too confident or too negative can be fatal not knowing the difference doesn’t make him any better.
The point being that for everything there is a time and a season. For a duck it may be the pond or the oven depending on the season. For us if our life is all about pleasing self or pursuing our dreams, are we any different to a bear searching for salmon by a stream or a spider spinning a web to catch a meal: flesh and blood pursuing their own ideals.
Ask yourself how much time you spend on helping others or pursuing the ways of something higher than just the desires of mortal men. If you participate in the activities of most men seeking to please self, like any other animal you are (ideal).
If on the other hand you and I learn to forego some of our desires and dreams for the pursuit of doing something for others including the will of him who made us; rather than just ideal you begin to learn to be free.
Try it for yourself and see, for most men can be better than just ideal.
The observations in our poem the idealist reflects on this thought a little further.
Till another time
Good bye and good night
