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?
Jeff Hafler
My mother told me I was born with a positive attitude and I am so grateful for it. I firmly believe that important keys to fulfillment and success are to choose happiness, be grateful and stay positive! Read more>>
Hayley Richardson
My optimism comes from my Aunt Elaine and Grandmother. Growing up with separated parents I would often spend time with other female relatives like my aunts and my grandma. Whenever I picture them, they always had a smile on their faces no matter the life obstacles they were overcoming. Their great energy had always grown with me and helped me develop a strong positive mindset. Read more>>
Jaime Crystal Villamaria
My optimism has always been with me since as long as I can remember. It definitely stems from a combination of factors. I believe my resilience and determination to overcome challenges..my love for my children and desire to provide them with a better future and my ability to find positivity and hope in even the most difficult circumstances all play a role. Read more>>
Yingdan Lai
I am an optimistic person. In my animations, I often depict challenging or unhappy situations, but there’s always a sense of optimism and a hope for the future. This reflects my own attitude towards life. A big part of my optimism comes from my own way to kill boredom. Read more>>
cristobal toral
I come from the heart of the wine country. My family is from Curico, Chile and we know the importance of having a good reputation in business. My Greatgrandfather arrived from Spain to Chile when he was 15 years old and worked very hard to build a family business that endured multiple generations. Read more>>
Satina Warner
I get my optimism from faith. Faith in God and faith in myself. I’ve always felt like I was on a path to do something great. I know I haven’t found it yet, but I’m definitely enjoying the ride on the way there. If you truly want to be out there, being an entrepreneur, being a boss babe…your confidence has to outweigh all fear & doubt. Read more>>
Ethan “Lit Zando” Paul
So I have been entertaining and performing ever since I was a kid. There was this one time when I was at a performing arts camp and it was a VIP day. VIP days mean that someone big in the industry comes to see us perform that day, which could lead to big opportunities like getting signed or booking a job. Read more>>
Monique Mosee
Optimism I believe is a taught or acquired behavior. Meaning that either someone in our lives showed us how or we taught ourselves how NY whatever means were available to us. Personally for me my Optimism comes from both. My mother went through many adversities, trauma and challenges in life, but she never stopped looking forward to joy. Read more>>
Tony Skinner
I haven’t always had my optimism. When I was younger, I carried a lot of weight for things that I didn’t understand and couldn’t process well, like my great grandma passing when I was 5. She was a daily primary caretaker and my little brain didn’t know how to make sense of her being gone. Read more>>
Brian Beckwith
My optimism comes from my mother who is probably one of the happiest people i’ve met in life. Its been embedded in me from a young age to look at the positive side of things. Not to dwel on what you can’t change instead what you can do to change your outcome / situation. Read more>>
Matthew Yonemura
My optimism comes from the people I work with and the change I work toward. If it weren’t for the rest of the Changing Tides Crew (the rest of the young adult team), then this wouldn’t be possible. Read more>>
Patricia Qaiyyim
Where does my optimism come from? I was born optimistic. As far back as I can remember, I have always seen the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. I inherited that sense of optimism from my father; no matter what the situation, he was always looking for and expecting the best outcome in the situation and in people. Read more>>
Paola Herrera Moya
My optimism derives from crucial factors that have shaped my life and my perspective on it. Working hard to fulfill what I have desired, including a master’s degree in production design, has been a source of pride and confidence in what I can achieve, giving me a positive attitude toward my present and future. Read more>>
Crystal Bennett
I consider myself incredibly lucky to be naturally wired with a sunny disposition. I’m generally high-energy and positive. It’s a gift I’m grateful for and maintaining this outlook comes somewhat effortlessly. You might say it’s just part of my DNA. Read more>>
Dana Meijerhof
I see every event/ challenge in our way/life as a learning opportunity. As a needed lesson to achieve our purpose, our goal. This way of seeing things in life, make me always (almost) keep my optimism. Read more>>
Nisreen Azar
I have an inherently optimistic personality that is equal parts nature and nurture combined. We can’t deny the suffering and pain of life, but it’s equally full of beauty, hope and joy. I stay focused on what makes me feel strong and peaceful so I can better serve my purpose as a mother, wife and teacher. Read more>>
Don Bosco Laskar Betelgusa
Born to artist parents, it gave me a place to develop my creative talents. From there I was always optimistic about the talent I had for a career in the arts, I developed this optimism by starting school in the fine arts department and continuing my studies at an art college. From this process, hopes for the future of an artistic career became stronger. Read more>>
James Lane
I would say that my optimism comes from growing up in the south work housing projects in South Philadelphia. When I would look around and see lots of folks who were stuck in their circumstances and situations, I developed a positive positive mindset to not be led down those aisles, guided by great teachers in elementary school and my mother Starletta . They helped me to look at the future in a positive way. Read more>>
Jack Waugh
I think music fuels optimism naturally when you enter into a creative space. Especially playing with likeminded musicians who are talented and driven, you begin to discover your voice and collective voices and also the impact it can have on people. Read more>>
Elizabeth Elias Huffman
I have always been a glass half full person since I was a child putting on shows for the neighborhood kids. As long as I can remember I have wanted a career in theatre. I love to tell stories and I search to find the common ground and humanity in the great classics, which have been an important focus of my work, but really in everything I direct or produce. Read more>>
Rachel Griffin
For the longest time, I didn’t believe myself to be an optimist – I was a realist. This is what I told myself over and over. It wasn’t until friends and loved ones pointed out to me that I WAS the optimist. It didn’t make sense to me. I’m a very logic-driven person, but what they pointed out is that I’ve taken so many risks in my life (quitting my cushy sales job during the pandemic to pursue a career in entertainment, starting my own business and investing personal finances to do so, moving to LA, etc. etc.) that only an optimist would pursue. Why was that? Read more>>
Jestine McClay
My optimism comes from believing that there is always good in others and in our society. I know we are constantly shown the negative parts of life, but there is true kindness around us if you just look for it. History shows that despite challenges, humanity has continually found ways to overcome obstacles and progress. Seeing acts of kindness, innovation, and resilience in everyday life shows me that positive change is always possible. Read more>>
MICHELE BYRNE
My father told me at a young age that I could do whatever I wanted with my life if I practiced and worked hard. At the time I played the trumpet in the 4th grade band. He told me I could be the best girl trumpet player in the world if that was my goal. Read more>>
Lynn Lazare
Well let’s break down the word optimism. Op is the root word which means to work or produce in abundance. I am a woman of strong faith and I have op’ed in with God. I have produced a vast amount of unwavering faith by trusting God. Which in return God has increased my optimism because I know I am limitless and it is my divine birth to be abundant in all I do. So optimism is just in my dna honey. Read more>>
Luis Cruz
My optimism originates from my upbringing. I was raised in an environment where negativity did not exist; there was always a smile, and we always aimed to achieve what we desired. My father was an extremely cheerful person, and for him, there were never any problems—only solutions. Growing up in such an atmosphere instilled in me a strong confidence that I will always reach my goals and resolve any challenges I face, all with a smile and a positive attitude. Read more>>
Sherree Turcott
A Legacy of Optimism. My optimism is deeply rooted in the experiences and lessons imparted by my grandmother, a woman whose resilience and positive outlook profoundly shaped my perspective on life. Read more>>
Steeven Petitteville
I am a cinematographer also known as director of photography. Means I am in charge of creating the visuals of a movie, or serie…I think it is the best job you can do on a set (creating lighting, camera moves and build the director’s vision with technical solutions is a thrill). Read more>>
Rachana Bhide
Once I started leaning into art, music and creativity as a mindset, my world opened up. One story that comes to mind is on a plane from London back home to (where I lived at the time) Germany. A teenager seated next to me told me his girlfriend was an opera singer, and had just been declined from a troupe in Berlin she auditioned for. Read more>>
Nikei Salas
My optimism comes from choosing to rise above past circumstances. To create my own narrative opposed to those said from others. Read more>>
Charlie Ung Kim
The philosophy of optimism that I subscribe to is deeply rooted in a pragmatic acceptance of the past. Each error, each misjudgment, is not a source of regret but a valuable lesson that has contributed to my personal development. Read more>>
