The Optimist Poem by Jim Yerman

I consider myself lucky to be afflicted with optimism for after all is said and done
You have to concede that optimism makes life a whole lot more fun.

I believe I was born an optimist, it circulates through my blood
It helps me survive life’s little adversities and withstand it’s terrors and floods.

It’s not that bad things don’t happen to me, that my life is without misfortune or strife
But optimism reminds me I’m just having a bad day...in what is a wonderful life.

I know I’m lucky to be an optimist, hopefully it’s a philosophy I shall never forsake
But that’s the thing about optimism...it’s a choice every person can make.

I’m not disparaging pessimism, it too can be a fine attribute
For while optimism created the airplane, without pessimism we’d have no parachute.

It’s possible in the end a pessimist may be correct, and can say so with dignity and pride
But even a pessimist would have to agree, optimism is a much more enjoyable ride.

So I’ll stick with my optimism. I’ll use it to help me waltz through the pain.
I’ll use it to weather the storms that arrive. I’ll use it to dance in the rain.

And when the world turns its darkest and I’m feeling bruised and ministering to all my scars
I’ll use it to remind me it’s only in darkness, if you look up you can see the stars.

If you wonder if there are more optimists or pessimists in the world...think of this the next time you’re in a pinch,
Why is the average pencil 7 inches long but the eraser’s only one-half an inch?

It’s because there are a lot of optimists...on a cloudy day we find the sun
You might think this optimistic of me...but it’s true..you see I’m also married to one.