By doing so I have discovered in myself a person who is virtually impossible to let down, a person who sees each tiny thing as more than I had before and hence a gain.

I shed so many of my desires and since I want so little I rarely have a sense of desire or longing. I found contentment as a result.

I realized that it is better to have little and want little more than to have much and want much more.

In this way I have turned pragmatism into optimism.

In fact, I consider a pessimist to be anything other than wise. To a pessimist nothing ever reaches his "standards" and he is very judgmental.