My mum was a glass half full sort of person and unfortunately, she had a child who firmly believed the glass was, in fact, half empty. She would say 'things could always be worse' and I, stubborn, a trait I am so happy to have inherited from her, would say 'but things could always be better'. And this was how we lived, the optimist and the pessimist and slowly, thankfully, her bright optimism rubbed off on me. While I now feel many things could be better, I know what she'd say. She would tell me the house could have burnt down while I was with her at the hospital or that I could have finally lost the house keys I am forever misplacing. She would tell me to be grateful for my life, for the life of our family and friends and the time we had together that so few thought we'd have. She would remind me to see beauty, sincerity and kindness in the world. My mum was a loving, strong, inspirational woman and while I doubt my glass will ever look full, she helped me to see how it could.