Optimism

I once heard a story about a group of researchers who wanted to find out why some people are naturally optimistic while others are naturally pessimistic. In hopes of finding an answer, they selected two boys to study. One was always happy and laughing at life; the other was always, full of gloom and doom. The researchers set up a room full of toys with almost everything a little boy could want. The pessimistic boy went into the room and just stood there. One of the researchers came in and asked him if he wanted to ride on the wooden horse. The boy started crying and said he might fall off and hurt himself. They then brought in the other boy. He rode the horse, played with the balls, colored in the books and had a great time.

For the next test, the researchers put a pile of horse manure and a shovel in a room. The first boy, the pessimist, wrinkled his nose and cried. The researchers came and took him out. Then it was the second boy’s turn. The researchers put him in the room. In a few seconds, the little fellow had leapt into the center of the pile of horse manure and started digging as hard as he could. The researchers rushed in and pulled him out. “What in the world are you digging for?” they asked him. The little optimist said, “With all that horse manure in there, I just know there’s a pony in there somewhere.”

Excerpt from 'LifeManual' by Peter H. Thomas. www.lifemanual.com. Copyright 2005, 2006. All rights reserved.

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