What made Jonah an optimist? Do you find that your own difficult life experiences make you more optimistic or pessimistic?

Jonah insists he is an optimist. Were there events or relationships in his life that made him so, despite a number of real tragedies?

Do you find that your own difficult life experiences make you more optimistic, or conversely, more pessimistic?

Jonah was surrounded by optimism. His family, his own attitude served in feeding optimism. Difficult experiences tend to make me more of an optimist. There's always someone facing more challenges and there's someone facing less - I own my situations good/bad with a smile and faith it will improve and it does...eventually.

I think that Jonah's loving mother and grandparents helped him to be an optimist. I think that most children- if they are in normal situations for their country and culture- are optimistic. Overall I would consider myself to be an optimist, although i have been in sitations where I have felt: hmmmm, this is not going to end well. However, I think that latter attitude is when I've been intelligent enough to know I had not made a wise decision and needed to do everything possible to reverse the course or get out of it.

Optimistic people look outwards beyond their inner selves. Even if they are experiencing anguish or are in a situation causing great fear, they are able to look ahead. They seek social support. Jonah's story is a testimony to the fact that we may not be given the perfect parent or we may have an absentee parent, yet if we realize there are others who will nurture, support and guide us, we can still thrive.

I think that some people are just naturally more cheerful and optimistic. I saw that in the children I taught. I do think people can work to become more positive. I'm naturally pretty optimistic, but I work at it to stay that way, too. Likewise, being negative can become a habit.mm I think being around optimistic people as Jonah was helps one to stay positive.

I think Jonah's optimism came from the people that surrounded him, especially Mr. Yoshioka. If anyone had a right to be bitter, it was him. Mr. Yoshioka was one of my favorite characters in the book. I loved the way his story was revealed and how he chose to live his life after such loss and sorrow. Its these kinds of people who inspire the rest of us to live hopeful lives.

His days of joy made him expect more. I guess I'm a pessimist because even my days of joy make me worry that they won't last. Although in times of sorrow I can always see a silver lining. Very puzzling.

When you make it through difficult situations you learn your strengths and you learn that you will survive. Sometimes tragedies can knock you down like big waves. But each time you get up you know you will get up again and again and again. So you begin to not worry and be so scared of things. You then see the good in things and in situations.