first of the four noble truths

i'm quite embarrassed to say that after so many years i just found out that my understanding of the first of the four noble truths had been incorrect.

Believe i read that the first noble truth was 'life is pain and suffering..' But recently, i listened on a Buddhist podcast which the speaker mentioned that 'Buddha never say that life is pain and suffering. He said that in life, there is pain and suffering..'

This is a very enlightening statement which makes me fully understood why Buddhism is not a pessimistic 'religion'. In fact, with this new found understanding that in life there is pain and suffering, i truly believe that Buddhism is indeed a positive force.

So, in life, there is joy and happiness as well..   ;-)