Maybe Rose-Colored Glasses Aren’t Such a Bad Idea

I recently ordered a bunch of sunglasses off TikTok. There were different styles, different lens colors, and apparently no adult supervision. I was going through a sunglasses crisis. Some people buy a sports car. I bought several new ways to look at one.

Then I put on these rose-colored aviators and had a thought: I look like I’m about to offer questionable life advice or sell you a used Camaro in 1987.

The mustache wasn’t helping.

But these glasses got me thinking about that old phrase, “looking at life through rose-colored glasses.” We usually say it as a criticism, as though seeing the good means you’ve somehow missed the truth.

Maybe reality could use a little tint now and then.

Not the kind that turns warning lights into mood lighting. I’m not suggesting you ignore a health concern, pretend grief doesn’t hurt, or convince yourself that buying workout clothes counts as exercise. Unfortunately, the shoes don’t do the walking.

I’m talking about seeing what’s hard without losing sight of what’s still possible.

There’s research worth considering here. A review published in JAMA Network Open combined 15 studies involving more than 229,000 people. Optimism was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events. That doesn’t prove positive thinking caused those benefits, and it certainly doesn’t make optimism a substitute for medical care.

In other words, keep the hopeful outlook. Keep the doctor’s appointment, too.

For me, practical optimism sounds less like “Everything is wonderful!” and more like “This is hard. What’s one thing I can do next?”

Consider the way we talk to ourselves about getting older. “I’ll never be as fit as I was at 25” is a pretty convincing argument for staying on the couch. “What movement can I enjoy today?” leaves the door open. You don’t have to recreate your glory days to take care of the person you are now.

Or consider a day when you didn’t accomplish everything you planned. Instead of declaring it a total loss, give yourself credit for what you did. The National Institutes of Health recommends this kind of compassion toward yourself as part of managing stress.

Maybe you called a friend. Maybe you took a walk. Maybe you finally asked for help instead of insisting you were fine. Those things deserve room in the picture, too.

My glasses didn’t remove the piles of paper behind me. They just gave the mess a warmer color. That’s a useful reminder: a better outlook doesn’t do the work for us. We still have to roll up our sleeves.

That’s also my invitation as you open this issue of Southern Utah Health & Wellness Magazine. These pages offer a wealth of information to help you care for your body and mind. Read with curiosity rather than looking for one more thing you’re doing wrong. Find one idea that fits your life, then put it into practice.

Let this magazine help you see a possibility you hadn’t considered. Better health doesn’t require a perfect outlook, but it deserves your attention, your effort, and a little hope.

The rose-colored glasses (and mustache) are optional.