Learning to make Lemonade

Lunanoire

There is a somewhat corny preverbal phrase that states:

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

According to the all wise Wikipedia, this phrase was initially coined by Christian anarchrist (ie, political theologian) writer Elbert Hubbard in an obituary he wrote in 1915 for actor Marshall P Wilder.  Entitled The King of Jesters, Hubbard praised Wilder's optimistic attitude and achievements in the face of his disabilities:

"He was a walking refutation of that dogmatic statement, Mens sana in corpore sano ["a sound mind in a sound body" or "a healthy mind in a healthy body"].  His was a sound mind in an unsound body. He proved the eternal paradox of things. He cashed in on his disabilities. He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade-stand."

Dale Carnegie, author of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living (1948), is also attributed to this phrase as his version advised that "If You Have a Lemon, Make a Lemonade."  Carnegie in turn credited American businessman and philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald for giving him the phrase.

Regardless of the original source of this phrase, the overall meaning is the same - Lemons suggest bitterness, while lemonade is a sweet drink.  When faced with the "bitterness" of life, the choice is ours to make:  We can suck on the bitterness of the lemon or we can develop optimism and a can-do attitude in order to get us through the pending adversity or misfortune.

American comedian Ron White takes this a step further and advises that when life gives us lemons, not only we should make lemonade, but find someone whose life has given them vodka, and then have a party.

[Deleted User]

Hi Lunanoire, that's a lovely positive comment for the day. Good on you, it helps to have good eggs such as yourself to give us all something to reflect. Take care, Tracey B ????