While we're waiting for Ross to move your post, I'll answer from my own opinion/experience(s).
I'm one of those people who subscribe to the idea of "Expect the best, but prepare for the worst." Maybe it's because I live in earthquake country, or have just had some pretty terrible experiences in my life. I learned at nine that being optimistic doesn't always work. My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and though we all hoped he would beat the disease, he died six months later. Same with my mother two years ago: same cancer, same outcome. It is realistic not to have your hopes up when the cancer is deadly, and pancreatic cancer is almost always a killer. Although I hoped and prayed that she would recover, the reality soon set it that she would not. Preparing for her ultimate death saved me quite a bit of heartache, though I still mourn her.
There have been other instances in my life where the outcome has not been favorable. That is not to say that I haven't had a lot of good things in my life. Really, I feel blessed. I was lucky to have two parents who loved me though I only had them for a short time. I have a husband who puts up with me, especially when I PMS. Heh. I have a great family, caring friends, a great job, a competent cardiologist. I have lived when doctors thought I would die.
There are other personal things going on with me at the moment, and I am preparing for the worst-case scenario. I can be only Pollyanna-like optimistic and say, "Everything will turn out in my favor! Yay!" and then get slammed to the ground when/if it doesn't, or I can hope that everything turns out OK, but still be prepared for the what-if-everything-is-not-OK. This does not make me primarily pessimistic, or a worrywart, but rather realistic.
To sum it up, I think it's just part of the human condition. I think we tend to worry because that is how we attempt to "control" a situation.
Is something worrying you, young Ged? However, if you're worried all the time, that can be a problem.
Debi (debster913)