Optimism: The Impossible

A “can-do” song from my all time inspirational favorites list is another Country Western track called Impossible. Released in 2002 by Joe Nichols, the song climbed into the top 40 of the Country charts.

The song provides several vignettes of Nichols' own journey of optimism. He recounts a few watershed events in his life that helped him see that impossible things do happen.

His current crisis is a failing relationship, but he has gathered personal evidence that even when others are saying, “It’s over.” It’s not.



My favorite line is…

'Cos there's no such thing as hopeless
If you believe:

In life and in sports I’ve staged many come-from-behind victories that others thought were impossible.

When I began my career as a Special Educator, I had one old-timer tell me, “Don, nobody gets out of Special Education at the Junior High level. The ones that could, already have.”

It took me several years to find out she was wrong. What made the difference for the kids? They hadn’t met me, yet.

My wife calls me “delusionally optimistic.” That optimism helps me help students whom others may label hopeless. But…

… there’s no such thing as hopeless if you believe.

I'm also a realist. I know that sometimes the walls and obstacles win, but not until I’ve given it my best to the very end. And when impossible really is impossible, I have the quiet assurance that comes from knowing that I didn’t give up. Sometimes I don't win, but I prolong the battle.

(A basic tenet of game theory is, The longer you stay in the game, the better your chances of winning. Or put more bluntly, Winners never quit, and quitters never win.)

Have you, like Nichols, chronicled the “impossible” things that turned out to be possible after all? If you have that personal history, you can use it as motivation when the next seemingly impossible thing arises on your horizon.




You can view the music video here.

You can read the lyrics below:

Impossible

My dad chased monsters from the dark
He checked underneath my bed
He could lift me with one arm
Way up over top his head
He could loosen rusty bolts
With a quick turn of his wrench
He pulled splinters from his hand
Never even flinched
In thirteen years I'd never seen him cry
But the day that grandpa died, I realized

Unsinkable ships, sink
Unbreakable walls, break
Sometimes the things you think would never happen
Happens just like that
Unbendable steel, bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I've learned to never underestimate
The impossible

And then there was my junior year
Billy had a brand new car
It was late, the road was wet
I guess the curves was just too sharp
I walked away without a scratch
They brought the helicopter in
And Billy couldn't feel his legs
Said he'd never walk again
But Billy said he would and his mom and daddy prayed
And the day we graduated, he stood up to say:

Unsinkable ships, sink
Unbreakable walls, break
Sometimes the things you think would never happen
Happens just like that
Unbendable steel, bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I've learned to never underestimate
The impossible

So don't tell me that it's over
Don't give up on you and me
'Cos there's no such thing as hopeless
If you believe:

Unsinkable ships, sink
Unbreakable walls, break
Sometimes the things you think would never happen
Happens just like that
Unbendable steel, bends
If the fury of the wind is unstoppable
I've learned to never underestimate
The impossible

Optimism: Dream Big!

In 2005 a song showed up for a while on the country music charts called Dream Big. It was the one big hit for a group out of Ogden, Utah called Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand.

I liked the song immediately, and found that the band had a youth targeted music video to showcase the song. The video added to the song’s already inspirational message, and I used the video for several semesters in a class I taught called Creativity and Design. The 7th and 8th grade students loved it.

The title foreshadows the song’s main message which is to Dream Big. But also captured in the lyrics are some gems of good advice. Listen to the song, or just read the lyrics and be inspired. I was.





Watch it here, or just read the lyrics below:

Dream Big

When you cry, be sure to dry your eyes,
'Cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile, be sure to smile wide,
And don't let them know that they have won.
And when you walk, walk with pride,
And don't show the hurt inside,
Because the pain will soon be gone.

(Chorus)
And when you dream, dream big,
As big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause when you dream it might come true.
But when you dream, dream big.

And when you laugh, be sure to laugh out loud,
'Cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself,
And it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to help to carry on,
But when the troubles come your way.

(Chorus)
And when you dream, dream big,
As big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause when you dream it might come true.
But when you dream, dream big.

(Dream big.)
(Dream big.)

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes,
cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide, and
don't let them know that they have won.
And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud,
'Cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty all
around and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to
help to carry on when the troubles come your way.

Chorus 2x

Optimism: Sit it out... or dance?

Sometimes I listen to Country music, especially driving home from work.

One of the things I like about Country is the depth of some of the lyrics. Country has its fair share of “s/he-broke-my-heart” songs, but once in a while an artist captures an insight or two that’s memorable or even inspiring.

Once such song, written by Lee Ann Womack, topped both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts in 2000. It was called “I Hope You Dance.”

What appeals to me in the song is the author’s call for optimism and action.

The line that introduces the chorus says, “…and when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance!”

Lee Ann entices the listener with her words, but in the end she knows that each of us must make a choice: sit it out or dance.

Songs like this have inspired me to take risks.



Some may say, “Life’s a bitch.” And they’ll find evidence to prove their point.

Others would say, “Life’s a dance. And they’ll find evidence to prove their point.

I’m going with option number two, and I do my best not to sit on the sidelines of life. When I get the choice… I dance!

How about you?



Listen to Lee Ann sing the song here.



Or just read the full lyrics below:

I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion, always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder, where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
And wonder where those years have gone)

Optimism: If you want to sing out, Sing out!

In 1971 the movie Harold and Maude came out. The theme song from the movie was “If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out” by Cat Stevens.

The movie was quirky. It was about a life-embracing, 80-year-old woman who befriends a 20-something, melodramatic, morbid young man.

Perhaps the ultimate “cougar” movie, the relationship helps transform the youth. “Sing Out” becomes their theme song, and it became a personal catalyst for me.



This song (along with the movie) introduced me to a life of possibilities.

Maude was a non-conformist. She was the consummate life-long learner. She had suffered greatly, she had a Nazi concentration camp tattoo, but she was still optimistic.

Maude personified involvement and creativity. She inspired optimism!

The song's title foreshadows the song's message: If you want sing out, sing out!

Life is all about choices, options, and alternatives. This song implores the listener to chose a path and then go for it! And I did.




(You can hear the song here, and there’s a picture of Cat Stevens.)


Here’s a copy of the inspirational lyrics:

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
’cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are

And if you want to live high, live high
And if you want to live low, live low
’cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are

Chorus:

You can do what you want
The opportunity’s on
And if you can find a new way
You can do it today
You can make it all true
And you can make it undo
You see ah ah ah
Its easy ah ah ah
You only need to know

Well if you want to say yes, say yes
And if you want to say no, say no
’cause there’s a million ways to go
You know that there are
And if you want to be me, be me
And if you want to be you, be you
’cause there’s a million things to do
You know that there are

Chorus

Well, if you want to sing out, sing out
And if you want to be free, be free
’cause there’s a million things to be
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are
You know that there are

Optimism: A Pierced Handout

In 1971 I was a senior in high school. One of the first jobs I had was at a 31 Flavors. I scooped ice cream. (And I ate good portions of it too!)

One of the other perks at Baskin-Robbins was the music. It was on all the time, and we listened to the radio for hours on end.





An interesting gospel pop song climbed the charts that year: Gene MacLellan’s “Put Your Hand In The Hand” recorded by a group called Ocean. (Until today I never knew who wrote it or recorded it: I just listened to it.)

I grew up Methodist, and gospel was new to me. (Maybe “unknown” to me would be more accurate.)

The lyrics of this song presented an option I’d never considered possible: a life led by God.



The first stanza of the song reads:

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and-a you can look at others differently
By puttin' your hand in the hand of the man from-a Galilee.



The rest of the lyrics are much the same: a simple story, a simple invitation, a strange but wonderful notion to an open-minded 17 year old. It was downright inspirational!





(This song is on my personal, but short, play-list of inspirational songs.)

Full lyrics here.

The song on YouTube with a slide show here.

Optimism: Find your dream!

Songs unknowingly serve as a lens on how we see the world. Are you an optimist or pessimist? (What songs shape your worldview?)

One of the few positive songs that colored my outlook in my youth was Climb Ev'ry Mountain. This is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, “The Sound of Music.”

The song is sung in the first act by the Mother Superior at an Austrian Abby to Maria, an aspiring novice who is ill-suited for becoming a nun.

The song is a powerful encouragement to an idealistic youth who needs inspiration to continue to take every step towards finding her dreams. (Even if those dreams need further definition.)

What does that have to do with me? I just tagged along.

The staying power of this challenging musical piece is witnessed by its recent use by a contestant in the Dutch version of American Idol. (Listen to this!)




These are the lyrics of Climb Ev'ry Mountain for your consideration:

Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream

A dream that will need
All the love you can give,
Every day of your life,
For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
Till you find your dream.




I can’t remember if I heard this song first when Sound of Music made it to TV, or if I heard it first in a high school version in the mid-60’s. Regardless, it stuck, and it inspired.


The song inspired me that one option in life is to define and pursue your dreams. Yes, there will be obstacles. Yes, it will take all the “umph” you can muster, but dreams can be found, and dreams are worth finding.

This song presents life as a quest and a calling. To the budding optimist it becomes a model of a life of meaning and purposeful risk-taking. The possibility of an ideal life is offered where work is not just a job or career, but a vocation!

Songs such as this enables me to replace a sigh with renewed vigor. To inspire means: “to give breath.”

Are you inspired? Or are you out of breath?

(What’s on your play-list?)

Bonus: In a previous post I highlighted The Impossible Dream. Here is Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle singing it. (I think this was the first time I heard the song.)

Optimism: Feed your faith and starve your fears!

As I’ve contemplated the source of my personal optimism, I’ve discovered that there are but a few songs that have contributed.

I was surprised, and a bit appalled, at how few of the songs that haunt the recesses of my mind are positive and uplifting.

Perhaps this is not too surprising if you consider the personal histories of many of the pop-artists, lyricists, and poets behind the songs we hear.

None-the-less, I was surprised.

(It also gave me some clue as to why at other times in life I’ve struggled to overcome angst, despair, and hopelessness. The play-list that supports that outlook would be much, much longer.)


Today, being Sunday, I’ve chosen a song that I learned in my late 20’s. Written by a Christian woman named Frances J. Crosby and published in 1875, it has passed the test of time.

I find myself humming this song every week or so; usually when I’m feeling on the verge of being overwhelmed, or sad, or just mildly discouraged. (Optimists often swim upstream, against the current of circumstance and negativity!)

Franny was a prolific songwriter, and she was blind. Her songs were born of a personal, practical faith that reverberates in troubled hearts more than a century after they were written.

One of her songs fuel my faith and optimism:





All the Way My Savior Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.


My optimism is fueled in large part by the story of Christ. He overcame the greatest of apparent defeats: death. The Resurrection of Christ stands as an emblem of a never-too-late outlook and reality.

Bad things “befall me.” I tread “winding paths.” My “weary steps” falter, and my soul becomes “athirst.” But… All the Way My Savior Leads Me!



Jesus has been my dearest Friend, greatest Comfort, surest Guide, and truest Encourager. Sometimes he speaks via the breeze, the kind act of another, a passage of Scripture, or the song of a middle-aged blind woman.

To think one will journey through life unscathed by its hurts and disappointments is naïve. To believe that one must bear this weight alone is unnecessary.

“This my song through endless ages: Jesus led me all the way.”

That’s my song, and I’m stickin’ to it!



(What song is fueling your outlook? How’s that working for you?) ;-)

Happy Sunday!