Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Invitation to Optimism

"The Optimistic Gardener"
by Duy Huynh



“What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise”
~ Oscar Wilde ~


I am inviting you to spend today in optimism. Let go of worry and fear. Just wallow in optimism today. No matter what is going on in your life. No matter if you just lost the best paying job you ever had or gained ten pounds. No matter that everyone keeps talking about how bad the economy is and how it's basically impossible to do whatever it is that you are wanting to do. No matter how many bills (mistakes, failures, action items) are stacked up and screaming at you. Don't listen to the naysayers and dooms-dayers. Everything is going to be alright. And not just alright; things are going to be the best they have ever been. Allow yourself this day of optimism, this day of certainty that all is well.

And then do it again tomorrow. And the next day, and the next...

7 comments:

Rachel Nye said...

This is so true, and funny that you posted this, when Eric and I got home yesterday from work after having some time off, we both said that today was great, in shock because before Eric had always complained about his mean boss who always found things he did wrong and I was always exhausted from the drama. We both said we had started the day optimistically and with that attitude everything flowed smoothly. Here's to another good day, and I am finally recovered from Murph, I think :)

Byron said...

This post is so timely! Thanks, Pat! Yesterday, I struggled with wanting to solve every problem someone presented me and feeling powerless to do it. Today, I shall convince myself that all will be wonderful! It's a repeat post for me, but it applies here more than ever:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day
Plenty of sunshine headin' my way
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Happy Tuesday!

Pat said...

Byron, it's harder to be positive when everyone around you is telling you how awful life is and how powerless they are to do anything about it...and that's what you are dealing with a lot of days...it's hard to remain positive when you are right in the middle of people's suffering. But you can only do so much for other people, and you can't let them bring YOU down. When I was reading about optimism last night, I found a lot of quotes from Anne Frank (it made me want to read her diary again). She was able to remain positive and see the best in the world/people under the worst of circumstances. If she could stay positive, then so can we. Thankfully we aren't dealing with anything so horrible as she had to deal with.

Quotes by Anne Frank:
Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart.

... I twist my heart round again, so that the bad is on the outside and the good is on the inside, and keep on trying to find a way of becoming what I would so like to be...

How true Daddy's words were when he said: all children must look after their own upbringing. Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.

Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy.

Kath said...

We had Kyle Maynard come into our gym the other week. The guy was born with no hands or legs. He played football, competed in wrestling (top in the state), does "Fran" and writes better than Travis (types 50wpm too.)
Lately, whenever any of us complains, we just point to Kyle's book "No Excuses".
Stopping complaining is still a different animal than adopting an attitude of optimism. (altho, Byron, that song just made me throw up a little in my mouth HAHAHAHA)
I've been helping myself by tricking myself into a better attitude lol. a.) cutting out things that chemically set me off, b.) checking off on a list everyday for small things I accomplish. so that at the end of the day even if things didn't go well, that list is staring me in the face as proof. I am considering not-indulging in whims, as an accomplishment (to check off) because I'm CHOOSING to cut out certain items that may be "toxic" to me (be it sugar, or beer, or mayonnaise or popcorn)

(man I always write too long)

Kath said...

That long story translated to: the cleaner my system/BODY is, the easier I find it to be serene therefore optimistic.
(that's what I meant by "tricking")

Pat said...

Kath, the same is true for me. When I am treating my body well, all of this is so much easier. And not complaining/making excuses is often a first step in the right direction. It's not always possible to go from where we are straight to optimistic, but we can at least stop giving voice to our complaints, worries, excuses, negative outlook, whatever.

Now I know my dear Byron, and I know you just hurt his feelings by saying that his song made you throw-up a little. =o)

myesha said...

This is great Pat! I wish I had read this at the beginning of the day, but it is never too late to take a positive view on life. I find my self smiling....