HEART BEAT: Optimistic to a Fault

By Felicia Mitchell

I’m not exactly a sucker for advertising or pretty packaging.  Sometimes, though, something will catch my eye, something like a violet on sale in a shimmery wrapping or an especially informative bag of rice with its natural history written on the bag.

There was a time in my life when I bought a bottle of shampoo called “Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific,” a real change from my usual routine.  English teacher that I am, I liked the idea that this shampoo took up a whole sentence.  I liked the pink bottle with block letters in different colors.  Even so, I didn’t buy more than that one bottle.

One of anything is usually enough to satisfy a whim.  If I buy more than one, something has to graduate from frivolous expense to staple.  During this particular downturn in the economy, I can imagine that marketing somewhat superfluous goods is taxing the talents of marketing executives and their interns.

On the road again, this weekend, I went for a walk in a mall in Franklin County, thinking I’d find supper, something that I ended up buying at a grocery store instead.  During my evening jaunt, I wandered in and out of a few stores.  I was intrigued to see an outlet and even a distribution center for “returned clothing” in that mall.  It was making do.

I wasn’t much of a shopper.  My goal was to stretch my legs in a safe place before I went to a hotel for the evening.  Then it happened.  A pretty package with orange lettering caught my eye.  Like I said, I’m not exactly a sucker, but words have a way of wending their way into my consumer’s heart.

A small bottle of Optimism was on sale, you see, half off.  I stood there by its shelf in one of the stores, drawn in by pretty colors in the window, wondering if I should spend $5 for Optimism.

Then I realized that if I kept contemplating pros and cons, I’d talk myself out of the opportunity to improve myself, or at least to be a guinea pig in my own research study. 

While I’m about as optimistic as they come, it’s easy for me to get down in the dumps when I’m overtired.  Sometimes I get a little nervous about new opportunities.  Maybe Optimism would be just the thing.

Of course, I sampled it.  I put a dab on my wrist and walked around the store to see if I (a) would have an allergic reaction or (b) start feeling more optimistic.  Since Option A didn’t happen, I went ahead and bought a vial (half off), thinking that Option B might take a little longer to kick in.

There’s one problem.  I’m afraid to open the box that contains the vial that contains this elixir of Optimism.  What if I like it too much and use it up too quickly?  Maybe I’ll just put the pretty box on the corner of my desk and wait patiently.