Acceptance

"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune."
                                                        William James

I was travelling with this friend of mine in a rickshaw, a little younger than myself.
It was close to 9 o'clock in the night and we stopped at a traffic light. I was busy writing notes on my phone, when he drew my attention by tapping gently on my shoulder. I looked in the direction in which he had his finger pointed at, I saw beggars. Lots of them. Dressed in dirty rags, they were seated on the sidewalk. One was missing an eye and another both his arms. They were deprived of all kinds of body parts, wouldn't like to list them here and I bet you won't too. The sight was horrible. They didn't even bother to get up; they just tapped their steel bowls with a pitiable expression. My friend exclaimed that they would surely have a caretaker who has a shelter for them and food for them to eat. I expressed disbelief. He went on to say that there must be some NGO center or some organization founded in their interest which provided them with eatables and clothing in plenty. I said," Look at them, just look. Do they look like they are being cared for?"
I flung a coin out of the vehicle, all the beggars reacted so suddenly and violently that although I had expected the reaction, I was taken aback. They fought like madmen over the coin. A blind man had managed to grab the coin, and the others left him after a few kicks.
My friend said to me in a shaky voice,"Bah! Your mind is so negative." The rest of the journey was as silent as a cemetery.
My companion didn't want  to believe it. He didn't desire the knowledge, of the possibility of the beggars eating half a morsel every night and sleeping unprotected on the footpath, withstanding rain, cold and hail.
He had shielded his mind. He didn't want to know it.
Another incident comes to mind. I was watching a circus along with someone. A contortionist was performing in front of me, passing his body through rings, boxes and other structures. My companion was of the opinion that this performer is rich and well-off owing to his amazing feats. Nothing about the contortionist indicated this: he had a frail body and protruding bones. Again, my friend didn't want to possess the information, that the contortionist's body might have been bent by force by an exploitative person, at a young age. I have a hazy memory of seeing the contortionist having a banana and a cup of tea outside the tent, immediately after the show.
I think we all agree, that life sucks. It thrashes you till you hit the floor, then again picks you up and again, continues the hammering.
So, why not accept these sad realities?
People call this attitude 'pessimistic'. These are the people who will give you greeting cards on your birthday, which say, "Life Is Beautiful!"
You're not giving up. You are understanding the situation fully, and are capable of getting back at it, in an informed and effective way.
Actually, this attitude is 'realistic'. Vast difference between the two, if you identify, what a thing really is, you have a better chance of overcoming the obstacles associated with it. If there is something wrong with it, that's what it is. It just is. Deal with it.
Next time you encounter a problem or anything for that matter, stop, and accept it. Accept it's existence and it's nature. Only then, you will effectively solve it.