I have a relative who is a Democrat. She had a very hard time with her first child. “I didn’t realize it would be so hard!” she complained, particularly when her child misbehaved.
I have another relative who is a Republican. “Children are born with original sin. You just have to expect they will act up from time to time, particularly when they are young.” she said. She loved being a mother with her first child.
I have a Democratic ex-relative in his sixties. He is depressed at how little time he has left.
I have a Republican relative who just turned 70. He is delighted to still have his health, and gets involved in as many activities as he can.
I have a Democrat relative who has many grown children. She is often sad that some of them haven’t turned out as she hoped.
I have a Republican relative who has a few grown children. They also haven’t turned out as he hoped, but he quips “when you plant onion seeds, you get onions. With kids, you never know.”
I had a very dear Democratic friend who had terminal cancer. She asked “why did this happen to me?”
I had a very dear Republican relative who had terminal cancer. She said “this is my lot and I will deal with it the best that I can.” (I’ll admit she was truly exceptional and I sure don’t blame my Democratic friend for not being as cheery.)
Anyway, the pattern I see is that Republicans are much more likely to understand the world isn’t ever going to be perfect. That’s one of the keys to happiness.