I’ve always considered myself a pretty optimistic person; I’ve been through some pretty hard times (haven’t we ALL) and in the depths of those dark days, I’ve generally had an underlying, consistent belief that things will get better. Somehow.
There have been times when I lost that glimmer of hope; by the end of last year, I was wondering out loud if 2021 was going to be the year that turned me from an optimist to a pessimist. It was the simple comment from a dear friend that set me back on track.
“Hang in there babe, still lots of great times ahead.” And I knew she was right.
Luckily, those darker days are few and far between.
After moving here to the Okanagan, we spent the first few months settling in. Getting everything where we wanted it, figuring out where to find the things we needed and how to navigate our new surroundings. Busy times.
Then came the holiday season when, like everyone, we were occupied with decorating, gifting, planning and, at the time, looking forward to family and friends visiting us and us them. Unfortunately, not everything turned out as planned. Travel arrangements were cancelled, Covid made an unwelcome appearance in our home on Christmas Day of all days and so we celebrated as best we could the Christmas we didn’t want.
Times have changed
Now, here we are approaching springtime in the Okanagan. The busy-ness of the past few months has eased and we are settling into our natural daily routines. Our minds aren’t preoccupied with our own more micro tasks, and we look outward.
The world is dealing with the unprovoked, immoral aggressions of Putin and his forces against Ukraine. The pandemic, although waning is not done and the effects of all this uncertainty is now being felt globally through inflated gas and food prices.
These are troubling days for everyone. The uncertainty and division even make an optimist like me wonder, what on earth am I thinking? Am I being willfully blind to the realities of this world? And I think the answer is no.
Is optimism unrealistic?
I think it’s optimism that will see us all through this. Optimism will be energy that effects positive change because I think it’s the one driving force that always has. It’s not denial of the grim reality of the world in which we live, it’s hope that we can make it better. Somehow. It is possible. It’s not giving up hope.
So, this cockeyed optimist will keep on; my hope will not diminish. I will do what I can do to make things better and I’ll hold those in power to account if they don’t do the same. And I will trust the bulk of the rest of the world will be working towards the same better days.
Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.
Noam Chomsky
Want to help Ukraine with a charitable donation? There are lots of organizations to consider; here is just a couple. Please do what you can.
Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
One response to “Cockeyed Optimist”
[…] to the negative stuff. Maybe it’s an optimist/pessimist thing. And as you know, I most definitely categorize myself as an optimist. But I wonder, is it possible to help a pessimist change their woeful ways? Or is that just an […]