Our team is mostly comprised of optimists and we are often asked where all this optimism comes from and often these questions have led to enlightening conversations and so we decided to ask others in our community where they feel their optimism comes from?
Jarrod Lee
I almost didn’t feel prepared to answer this question because I haven’t had the best feeling of progression as defined by my idea of progression and the ability to be optimistic. I recently realized that I have ups and downs that caused me to ask if I really am an optimistic person. I believe in humans and the ability to be better at helping other humans. Read more>>
Schakara Arrazola-Tiscareno
For me, when I experience or see the dark side of life such as the brutality, suffering, and hate in the world. I look for the unseen and small acts of care, love and sacrifice. Our thoughts create our reality, my mindset is hopeful and realistic. When faced with hardship, I truly believe I will prevail despite my current reality. Read more>>
Edwin Johnson
I’m optimistic because I’ve learned that the things we go through are often influenced by our choices. Growing up, my family faced tough situations, and we were often in survival mode due to financial struggles. In such an environment, emotions ran high, and as a kid, I picked up the prevailing feelings around me. Read more>>
Jeff Heggie
My optimism comes from a lifetime of competing and closely working with athletes. In the world of sports, setbacks, challenges and failures are guaranteed. Every athlete I know has faced their own challenges, where they feel they’ve hit rock bottom. But here’s the thing – it’s at this point that I’ve seen some of the most remarkable transformations. Read more>>
Brandon McCrimmon
My optimism comes from the positive energy I share with the world. Having a positive outlook on life allows me to attract great things daily. Not too longer I realized that have the ability to control my experience through based on my energy. “When I share my light with the world, it reflects back to me in many ways.” Read more>>
Perdell Richardson
My optimism comes from my faith. I know that I can do all things through Christ. Here is an example. I am shooting a feature film with no budget but somewhere we are getting the money needed to film each and every day. Read more>>
Jré Dejuan
I come from a place where it can be a bit difficult to see a future that is bright. Growing up as a black gay young man from St. Louis, MO wasn’t the easiest feat to navigate. The neighborhoods, schools and even sometimes home, were very rough. So the question: “Where does my optimism come from?”, is one that even prompts me to have to think a bit deeper. Read more>>
Randy Gist
I have a hard time thinking of any time where being negative actually helped anyone win or accomplish anything. There’s always some version of optimism or positivity that has to exist to get that forward momentum. I just see very little purpose in pessimism and I’ve spent a large portion of my life living in it and realized it was a massive waste of time and effort. Read more>>
Bäsmini
I believe my optimism comes from the fear of not succeeding in things I love to do. Yeah some people say you’re not supposed to be afraid of failure, but if it puts certain dreams and goals at risk, it’s all the more terrifying. So when I try my best, I know I’ll succeed. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Read more>>
Leandro Ricciardelli Fernandez
My optimism stems from my passion for architecture and design, fuelling belief in our project’s vision. Collaborating with a New York studio, we’re crafting unique cabins, distinct from Georgia’s offerings. With investors secured, we’re set to build two cabins in 2024. Excited for Drom.space’s journey ahead! Read more>>
Danielle Lands
I have always felt optimistic by helping others, and now my main driver comes from teaching at the University of Miami School of Architecture. I teach, alongside several other wonderful faculty, the Freshman Visual Representation course. Unlike many other undergraduate programs, Architecture is an intimate and studio-based program, where the interaction is primarily one-on-one, as opposed to a lecture setting. Read more>>
Tash S
Growing up, thankfully being optimistic is something that always came naturally to me. Knowing that we all are living life for the first time, lessons are inevitable. Failure is going to come. In order to be successful – no matter what your definition of success is, resilience is needed. And to me resilience is your mindset when facing obstacles. Read more>>
Sam Small
I don’t so much see optimism as coming from some spiritually ethereal fountain or some premium blend of brain chemicals as a plain and simple choice. That being said, it’s not always an easy choice. Read more>>
Susana Mata
My optimism comes from taking life as an adventure. Good days, bad days, all days are different and bring different things but the good thing is that everything passes by, so is better to take life as an adventure. I know there are very bad days, terrible days, that leave scarfs but time smoothens the scarfs. Read more>>
Kaylie Roth
My optimism comes from all the hard times I had to trial throughout life already. I realized that in order to really be present and truly enjoy every moment life throws at you- you just have to stay positive- be happy and “choose” happy. That is what makes the moments. That is where the optimistic outlook comes from and just “be” the optimism overall. Read more>>
Cheri Fogleman
To be honest, I think I was born with it! When I was a preschooler, I got a frowny face on my “report card,” for jumping rope. My mom asked me what I thought about it, and I replied that “a frown is just a smile turned upside down.” (laughs) I’ve always assumed the best in people, and in myself too. I know I’m always doing my best. The hard part has been staying optimistic when experiencing loss, pain, heartbreak, trauma, failure. Read more>>
Abbi Kaiser
My husband Jordan is the most optimistic and kind human I have ever met! He has taught me how to stay encouraged and always look at the brighter side in every situation. My family has even nicknamed him “positive encouraging Jordan” haha! He really has brought a light into my life and I enjoy staying optimistic about our future together and my future as an artist. Read more>>
Zac Colwell
My optimism comes from my life experience. I was rejected from Southwest Texas music school, so I joined a circus band to gain some life experience and played in jam sessions all around the country. I moved from Austin TX to NYC and started all over with making friends and meeting new collaborators, which was painful at first, but led to a new career and musical adventure. Read more>>
Michael Jarrin
I draw my optimism from my gratitude towards God for granting me the gift of another day. The notion that tomorrow is never guaranteed is more than a cliché; it’s a profound truth. Reflecting on this reality makes me appreciate the gravity of my existence and encourages me to acknowledge all blessings, such as good health and my current circumstances. Read more>>
Roger Lee
My optimism comes from three sources: my faith in God, my support system, and my past experiences. My faith in God fuels my optimism. I believe that God is the author of all creation. I believe that God created each human with their own unique gifts and purpose. I believe that God has a unique plan for each our lives on earth. I trust that God is in control of all the things that He created. This gives me the courage and peace that I need to keep pursuing my dreams each day. Read more>>
Natasha (Nashi) Patel
I’m a delusional optimist at heart. No matter how dire the circumstances look, I always feel like things have to work out in the end. Though it might be hard to keep going, it takes patience to wait for others to see what you see in your self, it takes courage to try something that could fail miserably and when everything goes south, optimism to pull yourself out of that hole. Read more>>
Sherice Sheppard
Optimisms is hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something. My optimism comes from providing a better life for my kids. I’m very optimistic because I love what Im doing and I believe in what I’m doing and I won’t give up until we’re where we need to be. Read more>>
Falyn Satterfield
Optimism for me is more than a choice, it’s a requirement, because… at the end of the day, in life, there will always be things there to knock you down, there will be barriers to overcome, and there will be challenges to defeat. At the end of the day, we cannot change that truth, it’s an inevitable part of life that we cannot control; however, we can control how we respond to or internalize the “bad” in life. Read more>>
Jiyun Choi
I am quite an optimistic person. I do not easily get frustrated by the difficult situations. I always find a good part about it and ways I can improve the situation. However, I was not always like this. I was a very anxious and negative person when I was a teenager. Back then, I worried about situations that has not happened yet and got stressed about it. It made me to avoid challenges and fear about unexpected situations. Read more>>
Michele and Danelle Pino
Optimism has played a major role in everything we’ve done. Odds seemed crazy when we opened WYN 317 Gallery in 2013. Neither of us had any business experience nor had ever worked with artists and art collectors. We took a huge gamble but our optimism drove us to bet on ourselves anyway. Read more>>
Michelle Kakfa
It’s much easier to be optimistic and happy in your career when you love what you do. I’ve found it helps so much to surround yourself with people who have positive uplifting attitudes. At Kafka Media Group (KMG), we work hard to foster a positive environment and build a team that always has each other’s backs. Read more>>
Alina Chau
Like many people, I have my own insecurities and self-doubt. One of my most significant insecurities is my language skills. I lack confidence in expressing myself through words. Our family immigrated to Hong Kong during the British Colonial Era. As a child, I had to learn three languages simultaneously: Mandarin, English, and Cantonese. Read more>>
Jono Davis
Optimism is a key component of my personality. Caffeine and Ambien are blessings in life. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep and a shot of coffee in the morning to put a pep in my step. I also don’t exercise. Happiness = optimism. Read more>>
Hannah Quezada
Optimism is all about perspective. Sometimes you have to fight for it, but one way I maintain optimism is through practicing thanksgiving. In my life I’ve definitely had my share of hardships, but through practicing thanksgiving and having faith, I live in optimism. Like a habit, practicing giving thanks even when times are difficult, will produce the habit of optimism. Read more>>
Jordan Covington
You know that saying you always tell someone when they’re feeling down. “Everything’s going to be alright.” I think that’s stuck with me. I truly believe a great outcome is always coming your way. I think that’s the best way of looking at life, always hoping for the best. Read more>>
Carrie ONeal Brenner
In my career as a designer, if there’s one trait that has consistently fueled my creativity and resilience, it’s optimism. Not just the occasional hopefulness we all experience, but an unwavering, perpetual optimism. I’ve always described myself as a perpetual optimist, and it’s become the cornerstone of my approach to design – and to life! Don’t get me wrong, “perpetual optimism” doesn’t mean ignoring the realities of life. Read more>>
Kelly McCaskill
I have always been an optimistic person, but when I left my full-time job as an interior designer to become a photographer, I was not so optimistic. I had a lot of doubts creeping into my mind. “Will people hire me? Will I make enough money? Is my photography good enough? What if this doesn’t work out?”. Read more>>
Victoria Sirakova
I always have the glass half full. Read more>>
Vivian Boudhaouia
when I see things that look so impossible whether driving in a car and I see a truck in Tunisia so over loaded it should topple over, and it doesn’t, because the person is driving slowly and carefully that they eventually get there. It makes me smile and laugh thinking about the struggle they took, to get from one place to the next. Read more>>
Jennifer Hernandez
I would say I have always been on the optimistic side even as a young child but more than that I come from my everyday interactions with people who enjoy my coffee. Hearing them say dang this is good or wanting to get another one just proves to me that I’m doing to right thing and the boost of dopamine I get sets me on the optimistic path. Read more>>
Erin Dragoo
I think I’ve had this “toxic positivity” my whole life, actually. I can’t ever think of a time where something awful happened and I didn’t find the silver lining in it. I know that might sound a little bit morbid, but honestly, I’ve found that life is a lot like the stock market: there are ups and downs but if you look at the big picture, the general trend is up. Read more>>
Lisa Gilbert
The joy I find in attempting to show others what I see through my lens has been a constant source of inspiration. Beyond the artistry, this career essentially saved my life. I was going through a very difficult divorce and was suffering from severe postpartum depression when I decided to take a leap of faith that my former hobby might be something worth developing into a career. Read more>>
Loren Israel
I find my optimism in various aspects of life. One significant source is maintaining a positive outlook, where I choose to focus on the positive aspects of situations rather than dwelling on the negatives. Resilience plays a crucial role too; the ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks instills a sense of hope and optimism within me. Read more>>
Danielle Claudio
“Be more positive!” can be difficult to hear when you’re facing a hurdle or setback in your life and lets be realistic, those moments happen to all of us. Relying on our own optimism and not allowing the opinions of others or any outside influence to sway us from that is key to remaining optimistic. Read more>>
Nickolas Ballard
My optimism comes from my mom. She’s always taught me to always be positive. Read more>>
