Kind correspondent Lila Das Gupta clearly knows how much I like (1) lists, (2) self-improvement homilies, and (3) optimism; she recently offered these "Twelve Characteristics of Tough-Minded Optimists" (from Alan Loy McGinnis' The Power of Optimism):

• Optimists are seldom surprised by trouble.
• Optimists look for partial solutions.
• Optimists believe they have control over their futures.
• Optimists allow for regular renewal.
• Optimists interrupt their negative train of thought.
• Optimists heighten their powers of appreciation.
• Optimists use their imagination to rehearse success.
• Optimists are cheerful even when they can't be happy.
• Optimists believe they have an almost unlimited capacity for stretching.
• Optimists build lots of love into their lives.
• Optimists like to swap good news.
• Optimists accept what cannot be changed.

... and Lila points out that these also work for marathon runners!

_{(see also Lila's blog and Optimist Creed (1999-04-16), Move On (2007-01-16), Solve the Problem (2007-05-24), ...) - ^z - 2009-12-22}