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Mr. and Mrs. Positive

I have two really good friends, Nancy and Richard. They both believe in the power of positive thinking. However, though their personalities are similar, they are totally different in other areas of their lives. The biggest differences are their childhood, career choices, and lifestyles.

The first difference is their childhood. Nancy's childhood was filled with love, stability, and concern for her personal welfare. She, along with her younger sister was raised by her mother and father. Nancy's parents were involved in her schooling. On the other hand, Richard's childhood was chaotic and lacked love. His parents gave him up to his grandparents when the realized they could not take care of him properly. His grandmother took care of him for most of his growing up years. Furthermore, since his sister did not live with him, he never really got to know her.

Another difference is their career choice. Nancy has always been a caretaker. She chose to become a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked in a variety of different medical settings: doctor's offices, hospitals, nursing homes and a visiting nurse. Her favorite part was working with pediatrics. She is retired now. However, Richard chose to work in the business world. He prefers to work with machines and paper rather than with people.

A third difference is their lifestyle. Nancy is always on the go. She goes to yard sales (which is her favorite thing), thrift stores, out to eat, and enjoys nature. She is also an avid reader and book collector. She is married, has five children, thirteen grandchildren, several great-grandchildren. In contrast, Richard likes to stay home and do things alone. His life consists of automobiles'buying and selling them. He is single and has no children.

I am very thankful for the fact that I have two similar yet very different friends, Nancy and Richard. Even though they are both positive thinkers, they have many differences. This has taught me that anyone can be a positive thinker. And it is also what makes my friendship with both of them very intriguing and challenging.

Story was submitted anonymously