Science says sunny outlook increases lifespan

I knew this would be true!

A study posted in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says that optimistic people live longer than pessimists.

Great news, right? Presumably, it also means our extra years will be great, too! Sunshine and unicorns, as I always say.

Scientists combined data from two long-term studies over decades and found that the most optimistic women live about 15 percent longer than their pessimistic colleagues, while optimistic men live about 11 percent longer than pessimists (As an optimist, I choose to believe the fact that I enjoy "The Bachelor" on TV means I'll have an advantage closer to that of women).

Those increases came after taking into consideration other issues, such as exercise, diet and demographic information.

Of course, you could choose to look at this the other way: Pessimists are right when they presume they'll die earlier.

Doesn't matter, though. Join me in walking down the street, hands in my pockets, whistling and saying hello to everyone. It is, as the Brady Bunch once sang, a Sunshine Day!

Some would say optimism is an inherited trait. Maybe it is, since most of us have B-positive blood type. Get it? The fact that I wrote that and expected a reaction kind of proves that I'm optimistic, right?

As an aging optimist, there was more good news: Optimistic women are 1.5 times more likely to make it to 85 than pessimists and optimistic men are 1.7 times more likely.

Scientists didn't just leave it at the age span. They explained why optimists have an advantage: We (and I include myself because I feel confident that I'll be in the group, which is a circular argument, but don't bet against me) are more likely to have healthy behaviors such as exercise and good diet, while avoiding unhealthy habits. We also handle stress better, because we assume it will be OK.

Which reminded me of the old story of an optimist and a pessimist falling off a 100-story building. As the pessimist fell, he screamed and cursed. As the optimist fell, he whispered, "so far, so good!"

As someone who has been identified as an optimist from a young age (my good friend and colleague Ted Sillanpaa used to insist that if I played baseball, my walk-up music would be "Walking on Sunshine," by Katrina and the Waves), this is a study to embrace. As a longtime Type 1 diabetic, there are plenty of studies about a shorter life span, but I of course figure they don't apply to me. This does!

Because I'm walking on sunshine, wow! I'm walking on sunshine! And don't it feel good?

There are two conclusions from this study:

• If you're an optimist like me, things look good.
• If you're a pessimist, don't worry. I'm sure it will be fine!

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.