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O Optimism
"See everything.
Overlook a great deal.
Improve a little."
-- Pope John XXIII
Source: "Bits & Pieces," Vol. R, #5.
Topics/Tags: Appreciation; Attitude; Optimism
"Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out."
-- unknown
Source: "Bits & Pieces," Vol. R, #5.
In his Creed for Optimists, Christian D. Larsen tells you how you can be "somebody":
- Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
- Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
- Make all your friends feel there is something special in them.
- Look at the sunny side of everything.
- Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.
- Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
- Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
- Give everyone a smile.
- Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.
- Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.
Source: "Bits & Pieces," Vol. R, #5.
A little boy was talking to himself as he strutted through the backyard, wearing his baseball cap and toting a ball and bat: "I'm the greatest hitter in the world," he announced to nobody in particular.
Then, he tossed the ball into the air, swung at it, and missed.
"Strike One!" he yelled. Undaunted, he picked up the ball and said again, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"
He tossed the ball into the air. When it came down he swung again and missed. "Strike Two!" he cried.
The boy then paused a moment to examine his bat and ball carefully. He spit on his hands and rubbed them together. He straightened his cap and said once more, "I'm the greatest hitter in the world!"
Again he tossed the ball up in the air and swung at it. He missed. "Strike Three!"
A long pause this time. Then:
"Wow!" he exclaimed. "I'm the greatest pitcher in the world!"
Topics/Tags: Perseverance; Perspective; Optimism; Self-esteem
Two dejected assistants of Thomas Edison said: "We've just completed our 700th experiment and we still don't know the answer. We have failed."
"No, my friends, you haven't failed," replied Mr. Edison. "It's just that we know more about the subject than anyone else alive. And we're closer to finding the answer, because now we know 700 things NOT to do.
"Don't call it a mistake. Call it an education."
Source: Susan Hayward, Begin It Now
Auber, the father of the French grand opera, had just turned 80 years old. Yet, he was heard to declare, "I'm not 80. I am four times 20."
For Auber, age seems to have quadrupled the satisfaction of his youth. How are YOU dealing with the prospect of aging?
-- Ralph Stockman
Source: "Bits & Pieces," July 1999
"In 1954 Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile. It had never been broken in all the centuries of recorded history, but Bannister BELIEVED it could be done. He developed a mental picture of himself breaking the four-minute mile record, and he did it. Since 1954 several hundred other athletes have broken the four-minute mile, simply because Roger Bannister proved that it could be done.
"If an individual with only HUMAN resources is able to accomplish outstanding success, how much more can you accomplish when you place your faith in the omnipotent God and draw upon His supernatural, inexhaustible resources?"
-- Bill Bright
Source: Bill Bright, "How You Can Pray With Confidence" (1995 Campus Crusade for Christ), p. 41.
Topics/Tags: Belief; Confidence; Optimism; Faith
"Even when I have been playing at my worst, or when all the breaks have been going against me, I approach each new day, each new hole, as a glorious opportunity to get going again."
-- Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
Source: "Bits and Pieces," August 12, 1999.
Topics/Tags: Golf; Persistence; Optimism; Opportunity
An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world. A pessimist fears that this is true.
Source: unknown
Topics/Tags: Optimism; Pessimism; Attitude; Perspective
The March 1998 "Rotarian" magazine tells the story of a certain organization offering a bounty of $5000 for wolves captured alive. It turned Sam and Jed into fortune hunters. Day and night they scoured the mountains and forests looking for their valuable prey.
Exhausted one night, they fell asleep dreaming of their potential fortune. Suddenly, Sam awoke to see that they were surrounded by about 50 wolves with flaming eyes and bared teeth. He nudged his friend and said, "Jed! Wake up! We're rich!"
Source: "Bits & Pieces," September 9, 1999
Topics/Tags: Perception; Optimism; Attitude
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