On the heels of my last post about letting go of fear, judgment, and self-doubt, I couldn’t help but think about something I found in my dad’s paperwork several years ago. We often joke that my dad was a “collector” of many things (which is a nice way of saying he was a pack rat), and that mostly meant going through tons of boxes and paperwork after he passed away. But the positive side to this was coming across the little “treasures” and trinkets that were left behind: photos, yearbooks, notes, and journals. One of my favorite finds was a document with the following typed on it:
Promise Yourself
To be so strong so 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 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 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 countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of 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.
I’d never read this little gem of inspiration before, and it struck me as quite moving. As it turns out, it’s actually called the Optimist Creed, written by Christian D. Larson in 1912, and the rest of the world apparently already knew all about it. But to me, it was a sign from my dad, and a reminder of all the things I should be reminding myself of every day. As we move forward in these first few days of January 2016, I figure it’s the perfect time to revisit and share it.
Wishing a happy, healthy, and promising 2016 to all of you!
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