You're doing well, Getright! Life always has curveballs for us but I think we handle them better sober. I haven't found anything yet that is improved by drinking.
As far as pessimism, up to a point we are who we are. However, pessimist that I have always been, I am finally discovering that I feel so much better when I give myself a shove in a positive direction. Being positive can really become a habit, too and it now feels so much better :-)