On page 11 of Jamie Raskin’s important book, Unthinkable, I got to face myself. Raskin describes himself as ​“Mr. Rose Colored Glasses,” an optimist. He writes, “ But suddenly, this constitutional optimism shames and embarrasses me, I am tormented by the dreadful thought that this overflowing cheerfulness, a quality that has saved me through so many episodes of adversity and hardship in normal times, has turned into a massive and dangerous character flaw in the darkest of times, when all of us need to be soberly attuned to everything going on. Blocking out negative information, giving everything a positive spin, looking on the bright side — these habits of the heart have become a deadly peril to my family and to the nation I love….” He goes on to describe his myopia, both political and personal, and how the loss of his son and the imminent fear of losing his country moves him to open his eyes, to stop deluding himself and take the action to deal with what terrifies him.

I am a glass half full person. And sometimes there is no glass because it is hard to hold on to something that is threatening. But, I have support: friends and family that show up when asked. And I have the steady and unrelenting ​“pain in the ass” son, Ben, who is so prescient, that he knows I have an issue before I do. A few years ago, he saw an irregular mark at the side of my neck and urged me to have it checked. He spotted a melanoma before I did. Without invitation, he will do what is needed because it is important and he is good and wise — and taught me when something is nagging at me, whether it is personal, professional or political, be a guardian angel. I’m passing along the advice.