I was once on a business trip in Frankfurt and was standing in line to get a taxi when two people passed by and I overheard how the one was saying to the other " There is one thing I have figured out in the meantime, sometimes a lot is put on your plate, but life has its ways that you will never be given more than you can handle." I thought to myself that this sums up my thinking pretty well. What I would add though, through all the joy as well as pain that life brings your way, you have a perfect opportunity to heal yourself and your environment and take a step closer to your center of wholeness in the process. Viewed from this perspective, why wouldn't you be optimistic?