optimism anyone?

I had an entire blog entry written the other day about the strange behavior of ex's. Basically it was a long detailed rant about how a disgruntled ex of mine ignored my attempts at resolution and closure, however, she constantly puts posts on MY friend's facebook pages, where she knows I'll see them. It just seemed wierd to me, however, I don't really want this to be a vehicle to air grievances, or a voice of negativity especially against people that are in the past, and should stay there. This brings me to my next point.
There are certain people that I've had the good fortune to have touch my life, who I admire greatly. These people tend to have something in common. Their outlooks on life are all overwhelmingly positive. Regardless of what comes their way, they meet challenges head on, they don't indulge in self-pity, they overcome their obstacles, and nothing ever seems to defeat them. These people are people who I aspire to be more like. I wonder how nothing seems to bother them. Maybe it does, maybe they just hold it in to an unhealthy extent. I don't think so, though. These people seem to just have genuine goodness in them. One of the most amazing things about these people (at least two of them) is that they, at a young age, lost either one or both of their parents. It blows my mind that someone who has experienced such a loss at such an early age can move on and still see life as inherently good. I wonder sometimes, if this tragic experience made them value life more, and possibly see the good in living everyday as if it were their last. An old friend of mine, Felisa, lost her mother when she was in the 7th grade. I can't imagine the loss she must have felt, however she has gone on living her life. She has done so with a positivity that has always inspired me. She is now the kind of mother to her two daughters that she must have longed for for so many years.
There are others who I feel are just naturally born patient, and forgiving. People who never had a great tragedy (or at least not one that I knew of) to make them see the value in life. They just "get it" somehow. People like my sister's husband, who even though she's an evil disgruntled grouch in the morning, loves her anyway, and is patient with her. People like my friend Brent who probably knows me better than anyone and still shrugs and says, I accept you for who you are, and you're a close friend anyway.
So, while it's still a month and a half until the new year, I am making a resolution early. I'm not gioing to let the little things get to me. I won't waste time on feeling sorry for myself. I'll surround myself with positive people, and will help spread my newfound outlook to those who see the world more darkly than I do. Also, I pledge to be patient with people, to accept them for who they are, not who I want them to be. As Ghandi famously said, you have to be the change you wish to see in the world. This may sound naive, and foolishly optimistic. But I'm going to try.
Wish me luck