All About Pessimists Beware

Pony in the Horse Poop

What is an optimist? A pessimist?

My father tells a story that for me captures just what it means to be an optimist. It is not the ability to have life be peachy keeny all the time or to get everything we wish for. It is the ability to see the good or the lesson or the change in direction in all circumstances no matter how painful or challenging. The story goes a little something like this....

A group of scientists were doing a study on children and attitudes of optimism and pessimism. The first day of the behavioral study they brought two four year old children to the lab. They sent the one who had been considered a pessimist to a room filled with candy, toys and everything a four year old chid could ever wish for. They took another child, this one who had been considered an optimist to a room three feet deep with horse poop.

The scientists then waited three hours and returned to the rooms. The first child, the pessimist with all the candy and toys was interviewed first. When they entered the room the child was sobbing. They asked what was wrong and the child wailed "This toy broke and my stomache hurts from all the candy and all the other kids are going to be jealous of all my toys!"

They then went to visit the other child with the horse poop. They were startled to see the child running through the poop from side to side of the room. The child was throwing the poop up in the air with glee. When they scientists interviewed the child the response was an exhilirated "with all this horse poop, there MUST be a pony in here somewhere!"

Look for the pony in your horse poop. It IS there. And even when we can't see it we will be better off for looking for it.

Optimism is a committment and practice to look for the pony in the horse poop no matter what the circumstances are.