Your Perfect Year

by Charlotte Lucas

a person’s fortune was colored by their attitude: optimists experienced good things, pessimists bad, and the universe would give those who expected the worst what they deserved.

No, he wasn’t ungrateful or unhappy, it wasn’t that. His life was . . . okay. But nothing more. His life simply happened, from one day to the next, without any particular highs or lows. It . . . functioned. He functioned. Even though, if he were honest, there was nothing important to function for. He had arranged his life to be as free as possible. Free of responsibility, perhaps, but also free of euphoria. Depressing. Yes, he had to admit the thought was rather depressing.

you should only do what excites you. Everything else is a waste of time. No one should act against their heart and their own convictions.”