the way is england has become

[Terpe]

old saying 'your so negative that if you went in to a darkroom you would develop'

That's a good one, hadn't heard it before.

.you need to balance being positive with being a realist

In my view a realist is someone who accepts the world and events in their life as they appear.
Nothing much will change in my world if I believe I have no chance to influence changes and must only ever accept what lifes dishes out.
I'd prefer to take up a positive line and believe I can make a difference to most things.
Of course there are always going to be some things that just cannot ever be changed.
Those are the only ones that will get realist's view from me.

"grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.” -- St. Francis

As you say joe, it's getting that balance right that's key.

[lastlid]

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill 1874 — 1965