the eternal optimist

I used to really annoy my college suitemates when I got up in the morning, because I always wake up so HAPPY. While they would be slogging around in a grumpy fog, I'd be singing and whistling and greeting them with perky cheerfulness. Thankfully, my sister is an early bird, too, so we don't irritate each other when we are up-and-at-'em with merriment each day.

Though mornings are particularly positive for me, I have to confess that I've always been a really peppy and sunny person overall. I just can't help it! Is that so wrong? So today I thought I'd share a few of my favorite "glass half-full" quotes and poems:

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of travel. --Margaret Lee Runbeck

in Just-spring

in Just-

spring       when the world is mud-

luscious the little

lame balloonman

whistles       far       and wee

and eddieandbill come

running from marbles and

piracies and it's

spring

when the world is puddle-wonderful

the queer

old balloonman whistles

far       and       wee

and bettyandisbel come dancing

 from hop-scotch and jump-rope and

it's

spring

and

     the

             goat-footed

balloonMan       whistles

far

and

wee

e.e. cummings

Pleasure is spread through the earth
In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

--William Wordsworth

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Author unknown

 

We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.  --Frederick Koenig

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  --Marianne Williamson

 

You are amazing. Life is beautiful. Choose to be happy today.
Beth

Comments

[Jan Connair]

Love that anonymous poem about not giving up. I'd never seen that one before. I think I may need to paint it on a wall somewhere so my kids can read it often.

[Carrie Mowrey]

I needed this today. Thank you! I always appreciated (and still do) both of your cheery attitudes.

[Robin W]

I love e.e.cummings and that poem has such a happy feel to it. Thanks for the positive vibes today!

[Paul Opel]

I still remember being introduced to e.e. cummings in high school, and it was an incredible revelation. I just love how he turned my ideas of poetry and structure and meter on their heads, and opened up a whole new way of looking at it. Of course I immediately tried to write exactly like him and produced some of the most inane dribble ever, but that's how it goes when you're a kid.

Thanks for reminding me to break the rules every once in a while.

Oh, and I think the sunny disposition is a familial trait; we all seem to have that great outlook on life.

[Cheryl]

Thank you for the positive lift today! :o)

[Paul Opel]

Of course I meant "drivel" not "dribble," but you know what I meant ...

[Carrie F.]

I love your happy cheery self!
This post makes me happy.
I'm glad I read this today!

[Kalyn]

Thanks for the dose of positivity, Beth! You and Susan are just such rays of sunshine and I'm definitely one of those people who wakes up in a grumpy fog, so I'm going to try and adopt a little of your sunshiney peppiness! :)