OPTIMISM IS defined as a noun. To be optimistic is an adjective. Optimism is also a choice. It is a decision to be hopeful and confident about the future even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. It is a way of life. Optimism is a culture that is developed with practice and commitment to overcoming.
Like Leibniz, I believe we live in the best of all possible worlds and it is our responsibility, if not duty, to live the best life. Like Bob Marley, in reaffirming the words of a late Ethiopian Emperor, I am always confident in the victory of good over evil. I therefore take pride in not just being optimistic but also in being able to share the philosophy of optimism through an organisation focused on the welfare of children.
Optimist International is one of the world's largest voluntary service organisations. Here adult volunteers have an open field of opportunities to conduct positive service projects aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. The approach is simple - be positive. The mission is straight forward - empower children to be the best they can be.
One of the problems with being in a voluntary service organisation like Optimist International though, is its name. So I would say to someone, 'I am an Optimist'. The response is 'Oh, that's good!...God knows somebody needs to be optimistic'. Optimism is such an everyday word.We all are Optimists because we are all hoping for the best... always trying to see the sunny side of things.
There is so much going wrong in our societies; so much despair and hopelessness. So much negative energy. And in the midst of all the trials and tribulations is an even greater need for hope and positive thinking. Optimism is such a regular part of our vocabulary and language that there is no prime value placed on it.
When Optimism as a voluntary service movement was launched in an organised manner just about a hundred years ago it was out of a need to provide hope and vision. The world was on a severe downward spiral. But like the the gold of the Jamaican flag reminds us, once the sun shines, there is life; there is hope. The question though is how do we translate that hope and positive thinking into positive action. How do we use the adversities of life to spur us onto new heights, new ways of thinking, and new beginnings?
What better place to start than with the future - our children. What better way to build Optimism than by empowering our children; working with them to create opportunities and pathways to becoming the best at what they can be. After all, Optimism is about envisioning a better world and working towards realizing that vision. But are Optimists manifesting that attitude of optimism in the way we go about working with fellow Optimists?
Are we building relationships that lead to collective strengthening of the efforts to raise up our children? Are we fully embracing the evidence that Together Each Achieves More or are we so individualistic that we are being immobilized by the fear of other's success? Are we opening up and adjusting to modern innovations; or are we trapped in the innovations of the past that have obviously become obsolete and irrelevant?
To build a culture of optimism takes commitment not only to the principles of optimism as a movement but also a commitment to working through the realities that we continuously face in everyday life. Optimism is more than a part of speech.
Like Leibniz, I believe we live in the best of all possible worlds and it is our responsibility, if not duty, to live the best life. Like Bob Marley, in reaffirming the words of a late Ethiopian Emperor, I am always confident in the victory of good over evil. I therefore take pride in not just being optimistic but also in being able to share the philosophy of optimism through an organisation focused on the welfare of children.
One of the problems with being in a voluntary service organisation like Optimist International though, is its name. So I would say to someone, 'I am an Optimist'. The response is 'Oh, that's good!...God knows somebody needs to be optimistic'. Optimism is such an everyday word.We all are Optimists because we are all hoping for the best... always trying to see the sunny side of things.
There is so much going wrong in our societies; so much despair and hopelessness. So much negative energy. And in the midst of all the trials and tribulations is an even greater need for hope and positive thinking. Optimism is such a regular part of our vocabulary and language that there is no prime value placed on it.
When Optimism as a voluntary service movement was launched in an organised manner just about a hundred years ago it was out of a need to provide hope and vision. The world was on a severe downward spiral. But like the the gold of the Jamaican flag reminds us, once the sun shines, there is life; there is hope. The question though is how do we translate that hope and positive thinking into positive action. How do we use the adversities of life to spur us onto new heights, new ways of thinking, and new beginnings?What better place to start than with the future - our children. What better way to build Optimism than by empowering our children; working with them to create opportunities and pathways to becoming the best at what they can be. After all, Optimism is about envisioning a better world and working towards realizing that vision. But are Optimists manifesting that attitude of optimism in the way we go about working with fellow Optimists?
Are we building relationships that lead to collective strengthening of the efforts to raise up our children? Are we fully embracing the evidence that Together Each Achieves More or are we so individualistic that we are being immobilized by the fear of other's success? Are we opening up and adjusting to modern innovations; or are we trapped in the innovations of the past that have obviously become obsolete and irrelevant?
To build a culture of optimism takes commitment not only to the principles of optimism as a movement but also a commitment to working through the realities that we continuously face in everyday life. Optimism is more than a part of speech.
No comments:
Post a Comment