Despite a continuous parade of stories revealing the shortcomings of people and the moral deterioration of society, I am an incorrigible optimist.
There are two aspects of life-improving optimism: 1) an optimist has a positive outlook about the future, believing sincerely that things will get better; and 2) the optimist sees and is grateful for the silver lining to every dark cloud.
Here’s an ode to optimism by Edgar Guest worth posting on your refrigerator.
Things Work Out
Because it rains when we wish it wouldn’t,
Because men do what they often shouldn’t,
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong
Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow, in spite of the care and doubt,
It seems at last that things work out.
Because we lose where we hoped to gain,
Because we suffer a little pain,
Because we must work when we’d like to play
Some of us whimper along life’s way.
But somehow, as day always follows the night,
Most of our troubles work out all right.
Because we cannot forever smile,
Because we must trudge in the dust awhile,
Because we think that the way is long
Some of us whimper that life’s all wrong.
But somehow we live and our sky grows bright,
And everything seems to work out all right.
So bend to your trouble and meet your care,
For the clouds must break, and the sky grow fair.
Let the rain come down, as it must and will,
But keep on working and hoping still.
For in spite of the grumblers who stand about,
Somehow, it seems, all things work out.
So if you are going through a tough patch, hang in and hang on. Things will work out.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
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These are some of my favorite quotes on optimism.
In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip. — Daniel L. Reardon
Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. — Gil Stern
The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised. — George F. Will
An optimist is the human personification of spring. — Susan J. Bissonette
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. — Harry Truman