THE OPTIMISTS CREED

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something worthwhile in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful expression at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.
To give so much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud word, but in great deeds.
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side, so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
The Optimist Creed was authored in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, in his book "Your Forces and How to Use Them."

I tried reading this over and over. I did. I start smiling at the fourth line and laugh out loud by the time I reach the eighth line. If you see the glass half full this would be a charming little ditty to read at the end of the day and congratulate yourself how close you may get to nirvana. For the rest of us who cannot imagine the glass half full but are fully convinced it is half empty, it is one of the funniest things I've read. I honestly don't think I could do those things even if I tried. If I did by some chance get through to the last line no one would believe those words actually came from my mouth.

You see, I want to be an optimist. In some respects I'm more optimistic than anyone out there. I have a rock solid faith and I've never been disappointed. I guess I'm more optimistic than I realize. I've never, ever been disappointed in human nature and it has never failed me.

Maybe I should write my own:

I will.................

Recognize in my weakness I am strong

Not feel the need to unload all my shortcomings on myself on a daily basis

Realize that my friends are in need too and they are my lifeline

Know that human nature will fail me

Expect the best but be prepared for the worst

Never forget the mistakes of the past but not beat myself up for them day after day....move on

Not feel the need to smile when I don't feel like it, but do it anyway for it will help me immensely plus it will keep people wondering.

Know that when I am critical of others I'm just pointing out failings in myself

Laugh at it anyway

Believe that a cynic has a place in this world too

Optimism is not all it's cracked up to be.

Does that sound so bad???

I didn't think so either.