The Art of Being an Optimist

Today was our first day back at work for the year and we always get some great motivational speakers to come and get the ball rolling.  This year is no different....our motivational speaker was one of my all time favorites.  I have heard him speak countless times.  His name is Coach Billy Coleman.  His son Wes and daughter-in-law, Kristen both teach in our system.  Today, of all he said....and he said some pretty powerful things....there was one thing that just stuck in my head.  He told a story about a set of twin boys of five or six. Worried that the boys had developed extreme personalities -- one was a total pessimist, the other a total optimist -- their parents took them to a psychiatrist. First the psychiatrist treated the pessimist. Trying to brighten his outlook, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with brand-new toys. But instead of yelping with delight, the little boy burst into tears. "What's the matter?" the psychiatrist asked, baffled. "Don't you want to play with any of the toys?" "Yes," the little boy bawled, "but if I did I'd only break them."  Next the psychiatrist treated the optimist. Trying to dampen his out look, the psychiatrist took him to a room piled to the ceiling with horse manure. But instead of wrinkling his nose in disgust, the optimist emitted just the yelp of delight the psychiatrist had been hoping to hear from his brother, the pessimist. Then he clambered to the top of the pile, dropped to his knees, and began gleefully digging out scoop after scoop with his bare hands. "What do you think you're doing?" the psychiatrist asked, just as baffled by the optimist as he had been by the pessimist. "With all this manure," the little boy replied, beaming, "there must be a pony in here somewhere!"  I want to be an optimist this year....so whenever something goes wrong, I plan on remembering to be sure to say, "There must be a pony in here somewhere.'"  For those of you who are parents...and just waiting for that first day...it will be here before you know it.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to shape your child.