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Bitterness
Do you know someone who has become bitter over the years? Many are beginning the year by bringing the failed bitter attitudes of the past into the New Year. Some failed in love and romance and the bitterness of the experience has made them intolerable, untrusting and void of compassion. Some have had friendships betrayed and have vowed never to trust again. Some have brought into the New Year deep rooted feelings of dissatisfaction. Some feel used. Others feel neglected. Still, others feel unappreciated. Whatever the reason, there are many who are bringing their feelings of bitterness into the New Year. Their bitterness has already robbed them of the rush of enthusiasm that usually comes with a new year as they conclude that the new year offers no hope of changes, just business as usual.
Why does an otherwise optimistic person become pessimistic? Why do the hopeful lose hope? Why do the ambitious cease to struggle? Those who are bitter were not always bitter. What made them so resentful? What made them so angry? What made them so exasperated? So indignant?
Those who have allowed life's frustrating experiences to make them bitter have lost their grasp on those things which make life sweet. The late Jackie Gleason, known for his role as Ralph on the 50's television comedy The Honey Mooners had a favorite line he used when he began every night of his famous Jackie Gleason show. A pretty woman walked on the stage and brought him a cup of coffee. Gleason looked at the woman and as she walked off the stage and said, How sweet it is! How sweet it is became the code words for recognizing and enjoying the goodness life. Those who are bitter have lost the ability to say, How sweet it is! Their pessimism becomes so great that they can't see the good in anything. Even when they see a dog hit by a speeding 18 wheel truck get up and walk away on three legs, they complain because he's hopping around. They fail to understand that it is better to be a cripple dog hopping on three legs than a dead dog with all four legs sticking up straight in the air.