Optimism Thought of the Week

For Sunday, August 23, 2015

We Can Only Estimate

By Glennel Hardy

I received an email from my mentor this morning whom is a managing partner in a law firm. We both attended our first semester of undergraduate together at Loyola University, but after my first semester I decided to continue to just work full-time.  My mentor continued on graduating from Loyola, and then from law school.  Over the past 19 years since we have remain connected, and he has been a vital ingredient in my growth.

Within those 19 years, I went back to school, but then again had placed other things first. I sought out advice from Chris, and the best advice he gave me was that even if I take just one class at a time, I must continue on.  I eventually did graduate from Arizona State, and even when I thought I was done, I continued on to seek after my masters.

If you were to ask me 19 years ago what would I estimate my life to be, I would say to be working somewhere full-time.  I would not have any further aspirations beyond that, because at that time what I placed as priorities, are no longer at the top of the list.

We can only estimate what our life may look like tomorrow, we have to examine what belongs, and what must be taken away.  Can we look beyond today, and dream what tomorrow may look like? Yes.  Can we predict what will happen tomorrow? No.

We can only estimate, but even our estimations may fall short or exceed what we had thought was ever possible.  I am betting on the latter, we will fall short of estimations, but we learn from it, and our next time around we will beat the expectations. The more we use that strength the stronger we become.

Optimism Thought of the Week

We Were Once Small

It’s so important in life to never forget from where we once started. As we grow we look for greater things to come, as we are reaching further towards the sky.

Before we know it there is a shadow that has formed around us, and we come to notice that we have formed our own shadow. The light that reflects through us, gives us an image far greater than what we really are, it’s our shadow.

We all at one time started small, then we had dreams, and perhaps someone inspired us, and we built upon that, and we grew, we inspired others, and we continued to grow.

If you ever feel discouraged remember when you were small, and remember what you have become, and as your life history has shown, remember what you always can be.

Glennel Hardy

Optimism Thought of the Week 

The Power of Now 

by Zackary Meier

The power of now. Time will pass whether we like it or not. Ten years can easily evaporate like water in the desert. Some of us are granted the gift of 100 years yet others only require 21. Either way, the universe is completely ambivalent to when we decide is the “perfect” time to do something. Therefore it is a MUST that we utilize the most valuable asset we own; the ability to make a decision and create the ultimate power, which is the power of NOW.  

All too often, we allow ourselves to procrastinate on our own goals and by avoiding the short term pain of diving in and taking that initial first step, and instead we create a much larger pain of looking back on a life with dreams unfulfilled. After all, a goal without action is just a dream. The most efficient way we can make a dream reality is by making a decision and taking action, no matter how small that moves us towards that goals which is composed of much smaller steps. 

 How often have we had a dream vacation or have always wanted to learn something and we use the phrase “one day” or “someday” and unfortunately that turns into “I wish I would have…” It’s up to you.  

No matter our circumstances, we can still exercise our freedom of choice. Choose wisely.   

Optimism Thought of the Week

Moving Forward With Action

Text By Zackary Meier

Lately, it’s been far too common to see bad news and let it affect how we perceive the world. If we only resign ourselves to the notion that negativity and conflict are unavoidable; it prevents us from coming up with a solution.   Quite often, the small acts of kindness that are performed go unmentioned yet are the very things that continue to build emotional bridges which connect us as a human race. It is far too easy to see what divides us instead of seeing what unites us. Therefore instead of wasting precious mental energy just talking about what’s wrong with the world, we can instead take action and do something small to change it.

Whenever we hear about something negative we must immediately go out of our way and do something positive. Otherwise, mentioning a problem without offering a solution is just a complaint.

Photograph By Zachary Holley