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“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
— Henry Ford
This is Rocky. He has a survival story of his own to tell.
The Early Life of a Positive Thinker
When our daughter, Liane, was 9 years old, our family took our first trip to Cape Cod. Over the years, it became our favorite vacation spot.
On rainy days we visited the game arcade; it kept us all entertained—and dry.
One rainy day, our daughter won a stuffed white tiger at the arcade. It was the prize delivered by one of those infuriating machines that takes all your change before you successfully grab a paltry stuffed animal. The tiger’s acquisition cost must have been about $23.50.
The temporarily prized tiger came home with us and spent several uneventful years in our daughter’s room.
One day, Liane and I decided to weed out her overflowing collection of stuffed animals. Clearly, the white tiger with black stripes from Cape Cod had to go. He wasn’t particularly attractive, huggable, or lovable. Into the black plastic garbage bag he went.
That night, Bob took the garbage out.
Rocky Had to Scramble
It was Friday, garbage pickup day, and Liane and I arrived home from school. Emptied trash cans and covers littered the end of our driveway.
Suddenly, Liane spotted something in the street, about four feet into the main road. We couldn’t believe what we saw.
There in the road, standing right-side up on all fours, was the white tiger! He looked quite proud of himself as he firmly stood in defiance of oncoming cars! Somehow, he had escaped his near certain fate. Not only had he escaped the black trash bag, but he landed on his feet! And he managed to stay safe, somehow avoiding being flattened by an oncoming car.
Occasionally you hear about the cow who escapes from the truck on the way to the slaughterhouse—only to be captured on the highway. Often these cows are allowed to live out their lives in peace on a family farm. From a cow, I could expect this perseverance. But from a stuffed animal?
Rocky Must Be a Positive Thinker
Liane quickly scooped up the tiger and brought him inside. We instantly knew we had to keep him –and name him, of course! And what better name than “Rocky” for a tiger who successfully fought so hard to stay when all hope should have been gone.
Rocky has been with our family for many years now. He moved with me and my husband to our new home, where he serves as a reminder that you should never give up.
Benefits of Positive Thinking
Just as it was for Rocky, studies have shown that for people, positive thinking helps with stress management, and can even improve your health. The key to positive thinking, as I understand it, is to think that the best is going to happen—it’s that simple.
Studies have shown that benefits of positive thinking include:
- less stress
- less depression
- a longer life
- improved coping skills
- and other health benefits
Research on negative thinking at the University of Wisconsin found that when the area of the brain associated with negative thinking was stimulated, it weakened peoples’ responses to a flu vaccine.
So, I guess it makes sense to think positively. After all, we know it worked for Rocky.
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Many people improve their positive thinking with affirmations. Affirmicious creates daily planners and organizers based on Zodiac signs. They make great gifts too!
