Uploaded September 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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I know some days are dark and lonely.
And maybe you feel sad, but...well there's SO MUCH stuff to show you that it isn't that bad.

I want to tell a little story about this song. I knew what I wanted, and I had a chorus down, but the day I sat down to work on verses was a bad day. There are four separate failed attempts at verse one sitting at the bottom of this google doc because I couldn't smile that day. There's even a short poem called "I couldn't write an optimistic song today" in there. Not every day is good. But that doesn't mean we give up. It means that we turn to our friends and support structures, claw our way up, and start writing verses again tomorrow.
In a time when cynicism and jadedness are applauded, chronic exhaustion is a cult, and pessimistic nihilism is the mode du jour, I think we need to remember that not everything is bad. I'm not trying to tell you that your struggles aren't valid, but they aren't everything, and it's ok to smile. It's ok to embrace the joy and happiness in the moments you can, and it's ok to desire more. To strive towards more of them. So often it feels like we are dragging ourselves from day to day, left broken by the exertion. Celestia knows I struggle with my own mental well being, that's for sure. But that doesn't mean we give into the darkness, or accept it, or embrace it. We keep climbing towards that light, because that's where we are meant to be.
Keep looking up to the sky. Keep moving forward. Keep smiling. You can do this.

I can't say THANK YOU enough to Snowy Charm for taking time out of his busy life to do the mastering and mixing of this piece for me. It was a song I really struggled with, and anyone who heard the original draft in Busty's knows how much of an improvement this mix is. Really, Snowy Charm, you are one of those things that makes me optimistic about the world, and I really appreciate your kindness and patience with me.

Chuckles OC art drawn by Franshushu, with the message sloppily changed in Gimp by me, so don't blame that handwriting on her

Download at: https://u.smutty.horse/mjbkvwblmlp.mp3

I woke up to birdsong
In my window; welcome to church y’all
So open your hymnals to hymn 2010, yo
Sun in the sky, and it glitters like gemstones
This Magnificat when times are difficult
When the blues feel so real that they physical
When the darkness all around
When the weight of the world presses down
When your flat on the ground when you trying
But you flounder, you sink, and you sighing
Feel like dying; just wanna give up
No denying this world has some hiccups
But listen up: there’s an end to this grim dark
Like steel hitting flint when it hits hard
That’s when you get sparks
Set a flame to this benchmark
End of the day gonna mend hearts
Get a friend, cause we fixin to instigate a
Revolution; quick let’s initiate a
New solution; we all gotta strive
To become something more; it’s just evolution
Apotheosis: ascend like you’re Twilight
Apothecary: and the medicine you get might be
Apoptosis: a part of you die to rise
Above the brokenness; I know you can fly

Because I’m optimistic
Son of a gun
Let’s bop to this shit
All of those cynical bitches
Better hold on; gonna
Rock the ship; this
Lyric's a rocket ship
Let’s launch this shit
Through the atmosphere
And top of the list is
I’m gonna park
Myself by a star
And start
To make some wishes

And I know you might not always feel like
Friendship is magic. Is it even real?
I know some days you feel alone and lonely
But here’s the lesson that depression has shown me

The world is full of beauty
Sunshine and rainbows. No, I mean it truly
Green dappled forests
And shimmering seas
There’s a paradise for us
You have to believe
There’s dew on the grass in the morning
Thunder, sturm und drang: the power and fury
The glory of nature, the story of love
The chords of a song that can course in your blood
Of course there’ll be struggles
Of course there’ll be hardship
But there’s more to this world than the darkness
So don’t you give up
And don’t you give in
On your mark
Let us begin
Horseshoes on, and you step to the door, yup
Get your game face on; you're a warrior.
Power level up like a heckin alicorn, yeah.
Before you leave got a quick word for ya
Hey friend, you’re beautiful
And the things that you love? You can do em all
And the dreams that you dream? They’re amazing
Lemme come along; see where it takes me
You’re strong enough, and you've got friends
And you’re cared for. And you’re noticed
Please know this; even if can’t feel it
Right now don’t mean that it’s not real
So come on everypony, smile, smile
Fill the world up with sunshine; it’s come time
To unbind, stumble, and run, climb
Done crying, one more time

I’m optimistic
Son of a gun
Let’s bop to this shit
All of those cynical bitches
Better hold on; gonna
Rock the ship; this
Lyric's a rocket ship
Let’s launch this shit
Through the atmosphere
And top of the list is
I’m gonna park
Myself by a star
And start
To make some wishes

Optimistic.