"And things (mindsets) are slightly changing here."
... and our optimism is considerably less than it once was, so perhaps we'll "meet in the middle" someday ... 😉
Upon reading the "indulgence" detail for Bulgaria, I see to what you were originally referring. It is still interesting to me, first, that this English word is tied to the word "pessimism." I consider myself to have a fairly good command of "the King's English" and would not have thought to associate these two words ...
Anyway, this description of Bulgaria ...
"Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to cynicism and pessimism. Also, in contrast to Indulgent societies, Restrained societies do not put much emphasis on leisure time and control the gratification of their desires. People with this orientation have the perception that their actions are Restrained by social norms and feel that indulging themselves is somewhat wrong."
... conveys a somewhat "dark" view of culture there. Frankly, what I have always read about communist societies comes to mind in seeing reference to "a tendency to cynicism and pessimism," but ... Having never been around one, I certainly don't pretend to know for sure ...
As for drug abuse, yes it is a serious problem here. And linked, in my view, to the decline of our optimism, among many other factors. Like the relentless effort to destroy our historic Judeo-Christian worldview ...
Ahhh yes, "weapons" ... 😉 Most of my fellow Americans have no clear idea behind why our Second Amendment rights are so important (yes, my dear Bulgarian friend, I am a strong advocate for them ...). Our "right to bear arms" has nothing to do with self-defense or hunting, as it is far too commonly portrayed in the press here.
It has everything to do with "the means of last resort against a tyrannical government." Arising from the tremendous sacrifice of our forefathers to be free of the tyrannical rule of an English King ... And to remain free from that point forward ...
Someday, perhaps I will write about riding on a train to London with my fellow former "English colony" compatriots, when the topic of "you Americans and your love affair with guns" came up ...
RE: Little Ru on Risks and Expectations