Last week my son competed in an oratorical competition at his school. He, along with twenty-one other fifth grade boys and girls, wrote and presented their own speeches on the topic “Where are my Roots of Optimism?” As you can imagine, listening to this group of ten and eleven-year-olds speak about where they get optimism in their lives was truly moving.
This experience gave me the opportunity to speak with my son about optimism during a time when it was a particularly hard message to convey. As it is, for my eleven-year-old, being optimistic comes down to keeping a positive attitude. Unfortunately, for those of us well past our tweens and teens, faced with what seems like an ever-darkening world, keeping a positive attitude can sometimes seem like an impossible task.
As of late, we are all heartbroken by recent events, with many becoming embroiled in an on-going debate in which both sides are equally passionate. One cannot turn on the TV, read the news, or visit any social media site without being besieged. Unfortunately, it seems any effort to express an opinion most often leads to contempt and name calling, but never to resolution.
So, how, with so much intense disagreement and disparagement circulating around us, do we maintain a positive attitude? And how do we, then, pass this positivity on to our children?
For myself, I steer clear of the debates on social media; they’ve become a source of frustration. Instead, I remind myself there is always something to be thankful for, no matter how small, and I start each day by reciting a poem by E.E. Cummings:
i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
In my previous post, Whatever You Say, I relayed that I believe, sincerely, that thoughts become things, and I believe the answer to every question you send forth to the Universe is “yes”. Whether the intentions you present are for good or for bad, the Universe does not discriminate, it delivers. So, it is up to us to be discerning of what we portray through our thoughts and our actions.
With this in mind, I find that being thankful for every blessing can cast a ray of light on even the darkest day: a hug from my son, time spent with a loved one, a breath of fresh air from my back porch, even immersing myself in a favorite book. Thich Nhat Hanh reminds me to breathe, to center myself in a place of peace, and to be mindful and grateful for each moment.
These are some of the things that help me stay positive and peaceful. For my eleven-year-old, as he shared in his speech, one way he remembers to stay positive is by the rules we have in our home which we call “The Golden Rules.”
- Always be happy.
- Mind your manners.
- Be nice to everyone.
- Always do your best.
- Never root for the Patriots. (This last one is probably not germane to this topic, but as we are die-hard Packers fans, it is, nonetheless, one of our rules.)
As my son said in his speech last week, our rules help us to stay positive and be the best we can be.
It has occurred to me more than once over the last few days that perhaps there is something to be learned from the perspective of an eleven-year-old. Maybe we can remember that the way we approach each day is not a matter of chance, but rather a deliberate choice. And perhaps we can learn to be mindful of our own actions, and agree that, even in the midst of intense disagreement, everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, acceptance, and respect.
And just maybe we can remember that we are never helpless. And even in the hardest of times, we need not feel hopeless or lost. When we feel the darkness encroaching upon us, we can seek out our roots of optimism, and maybe if we share them with others, we will find a way to navigate the dark times together.
I believe that when you need it, there is always hope, healing, and wisdom to be found. For me, I will seek the wisdom of E.E. Cummings, Thich Nhat Hanh, and my eleven-year-old son. And I will try to spread their optimism everywhere I see a need, and maybe, hopefully, the light will grow.
Oh, and as for Patriots fans, all I can say is…sorry about the Super Bowl but congratulations on a great season. We’ll see you in the playoffs next year.
M.C. Greene
(Photo by Magne Traeland)