“I don’t believe in optimism. I believe in optimal behavior. That’s a different thing. If you behave every day of your life to the top of your genetics, what can you do? Test it. Find out. You don’t know—you haven’t done it yet. You must live life at the top of your voice! At the top of your lungs shout and listen to the echoes. I learned a lesson years ago…Action is hope. At the end of each day, when you’ve done your work, you lie there and think, Well, I’ll be damned, I did this today. It doesn’t matter how good it is, or how bad—you did it. At the end of the week you’ll have a certain amount of accumulation. At the end of a year, you look back and say, I’ll be damned, it’s been a good year.”
~Ray Bradbury (answering an interviewer’s question on how important optimism has been in his career)
Let’s Go!
Related Post: I’ve never worked a day in my life… (Ray Bradbury)
Yes David..yes.
🙂 YES!
I’m likin’ this battle cry! 🙂
That’s it. BATTLE CRY!
David, After working in an acute psychiatric hospital where many individuals had lost all hope, I began researching hope- ways to measure it and ways to gain it. What I found, among other things, was combining the power of positive thinking with, you guessed it, action. ACTION, even if it was as small as cleaning out a drawer, improved hope! Action leads to change and accomplishment. Change leads to hope for the hopeless. Terrific post!
I read your comment yesterday morning and it stayed with me all day. What incredible human experiences you have had. Thanks for sharing Kristin.
What a great quote. Short and oh so sweet!
Thanks. Yes, I agree.
Well that makes me feel so much better (see follow-up comment on ice-cream post) – I can wallow in the dark bits but as long as I act optimally it’s all good.
Seriously, though – this is a great quote. I trust it’s been a good year for you.
Yes, it has been a good year LaDona. And I too, loved the quote.
I love this Dave!! Everyone says you need to be optimistic which is great but you can’t just sit around waiting for things to happen.
Me too Bro. Me too.
Sounds like a good recipe. Optimism + action = hope? satisfaction? happiness? all sorts of good things.
Yes, that’s it. That’s the formula Anneli.
You reminded me of a song “I made it by Kevin Rudolf” well that’s why they say you would be way ahead of those who didn’t do it. So, START NOW!!!
Right NOW!
Wow, I needed this today.
Good!
Just wondering why everyone is so enthusiastic about the quote. After reading it, I just thought it was just another way to see things and try to be happy, but actually it doesn’t work with me.
I worked a lot the whole year and I think it’s been one of the worst years ever! Maybe I’ll understand the quote next year 🙂 or maybe I should just be happy for what I’ve done even though no results came.
I’m confused…but thanks for the post, it made me think.
:). I see your posts and admire all of them. Cheering actually. If you are unhappy, it certainly doesn’t show in your work and in your inspirations. Valentina, do me a favor and come back to this quote in 15 years. I’ll take the bet that you might find your line of thinking turned a bit.
You must be right! Thanks again! 🙂