Re: Optimist's Credo

From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Mon Jan 29 2001 - 08:41:30 MST


At 9:09 AM -0500 1/29/01, artillo5@cs.com wrote:
>I got this in an e-mail today, I thought you all might like it! :)
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>-Promise Yourself -

It was very good, but my warped sense of humor naturally causes me to
invent pessimistic, bitter and sarcastic responses to each of these.
Maybe I just like optimism in moderation?

>To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

I can smash beer cans against my forehead, so I must be right!

>To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.

Let me tell you how healthy, happy and prosperous I am!

>To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

What's gotten into you?
or
You're full of something!

>To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

Death, disease, famine and poverty have their good qualities too.

>To think only the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.

I think only the best. Only the best is what I think of. Only I
think of the best.
I don't think of what is not best. If I don't think of it, it is not
best. What other people think is not best.
It is best to think only what I think. I think what I think is best.
You'd best think what I think. You'd best think of what I think I think of.
You'd best think of what I think I think of, I think.

>To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are
>about your own.

You can be just as successful as I am if you do everything my way!

>To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater
>achievements of the future.

I forget if communism worked or not. Let's try it again for the future!

>To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no
>time to criticize others.

I'm too busy thinking about myself to critique your responses to this post!

>To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
>and too happy to permit the presence of trouble

I'm too overweight to worry. I'm distantly related to royalty so you
can't anger me. I can beat you up so I'm not afraid. I'm in too
good of a mood to listen to *your* problems.

>-The Optimist Clubs Of America-

Too much happiness and optimism all at once sets off my bogometer.
Even though I agree to all these goals in principal, I have seen
people practice optimism until they go blind. Blind optimism is as
bad as blind pessimism.

This post really is meant to be humorous. These are good goals. But
I think a little optimism must be based on good science and facts
that lead to optimism. Inaction due to optimism is bad.

-- 
Harvey Newstrom <http://HarveyNewstrom.com>



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