Admiral Jim Stockdale spent 8 years in a prisoner-of-war camp.
The pessimists held captive with Stockdale soon died. What was there to live for?
The optimists died too. When their expectations weren’t met, they gave up.
The survivors, like Stockdale, had radical hope.
Aware of the severity of their situation. Responding with courage.
The world today feels all gone wrong. The only solution is courage.
If we cannot imagine a better future, how will we ever build one?
Courage is a muscle. Exercise radical hope.
The phrase “pessimism is for lightweights” arose from a conversation between John Higgs and James Burt. It then became a poem by Salena Godden.
Pessimism is for Lightweights is now a book, full of joy and radical hope. Buy Pessimism is for Lightweights here.
Here is the title poem.
Think of those that marched this road before
And those that will march here in years to come
The road in shadow and the road in the sun
The road before us and the road all done
History is watching us and what will we becomeThis road is all flags and milestones
Immigrant blood and sweat and tears
Built this city, built this country
Made this road last all these yearsThis road is made of protest
And those not permitted to vote
And those that are still fighting to speak
With a boot stamping on their throatThere is power and strength in optimism
To have faith and to stay true to you
Because if you can look in the mirror
And have belief and promise you
Will share wonder in living things
Beauty, dreams, books and art
Love your neighbour and be kind
And have an open heartThen you’re already winning at living
You speak up, you show up and stand tall
It’s silence that is complicit
It’s apathy that hurts us allPessimism is for lightweights
This road was never easy or straight
And living is all about living alive and lively
And I believe love will conquer hate.
Buy the book if you also want to read this in old English, plus 28 other wonder-filled poems.
I recently moved my online shop, but forgot to update the links to it. This is where the shop is now. If you use the code MIND23 between now and the end of June, you will get a 23% discount on all items ordered. 🎁