“Optimism is the most important skill” -GaryVee

A friend of mine did a doctoral thesis on the power of hope. Really. She found (in an academic way) that hope affect the outcome.

So when I picked up Gary Vaynerchuck’s book and he said that he felt optimism is super important, it hit me.

There once was a cat who wanted to better himself in the world. He didn’t have much going for him, but he had a dream.

He was fairly comfortable in his world. But his owner was old and died. It had nothing to do with him, he could just stay in usual haunts and keep hunting mice.

But no. He was part of the youngest son’s inheritance, and the house was not. So, the cat, a set of bequeathed boots and the youngest son were out on the street.

The youngest son was not optimistic, but the cat had enough optimism for both of them.

That cat figured he could co anything. Starting with wearing boots. He asked for it and kept his eyes out and make the most of every opportunity.

Deciding something is possible is the first step to finding a way to do it.

There are many examples of people doing things that have never been done before. It’s fun to read the books and watch the documentaries about famous inventors and the massive achievements.

I would love to have a massive achievement. Optimism might be the magic. Optimism, hope and getting started.

I am looking around my neighborhood and we have some good news:
Covid cases are declining.

Rising Covid cases were the reason a lot of things were shut down. Schools, business, etc.

If the cases are declining, that would seem to indicate we can open up again.

The cat would say we can do it. The youngest son would not.

Is it possible? Can we be optimistic? I can.

I can imagine a world that is open.

Now we all have to get together to get started. We can do it. I have hope.

“okay, this is really good… You ready?”

Go ahead

“When is a jar a door? …wait…I said that wrong… When is a door not a door?”

Timing is critical to get a laugh. And it’s high time to get a laugh.

Did you see that video about the Texas lawyer that came to court with a cat filter?

“I’m not a cat”

I understand that.

And I can’t stop laughing. Boy did I need to laugh.

This are serious. Have you seen the latest reason to be afraid? My phone buzzes every couple hours with a new one.

This is SERIOUS.

Bzt

So many people are not SERIOUS ENOUGH.

Care harder.

Worry More.

Maybe I’ve reached the end of what I can achieve by worry and fear.

“Can you hear me, Judge? …I don’t know how to remove it…I’m prepared to go forward…”

I can see that. I can see that a laugh is exactly what I need. It’s what I need more of.

The jester was part of the king’s court. A laugh can be a bridge to peace. A laugh can be the shortest path from point A to point B.

A laugh can help show that point B isn’t where I want to go, point Z suits me much better.

I just remembered how to remove the worry and fear. I am prepared to go forward at this time.

My friend put a Valentine’s concert I Facebook. All these classic songs beautifully sung by her and her guitar strumming boyfriend, melting my heart. And they got to an old favorite

I would walk 500 miles and
I would walk 500 more

I’m listening to her sweet voice and thinking how strange it is to hear a woman sing that very male love song. Granted, she’s harmonizing with her sweetie but even a that little bit of a shift changed it.

…Just to be the man who walk a thousand
Miles to fall down at your door

My daughter has been taking karate and after watching her, I joined an adult class. Her sensei has all the little warriors shout out in unison:

I DO MY BEST

In my class, I do the same. This is not a class for being cute. The teachers ask me for more than I knew I could give. Last week I came to Wednesday class worn out from all the thinky work at my job, ready to do my best. I was weighed down and I knew it, but I was going to power through.

I only tripped a little at the beginning and I kept going. At the very end, I tripped hard. It took a long time to get up. It hurt and I felt so stupid. I had overestimated my best, and hurt myself.

In the Proclaimers song, he overpromised. Not likely to be called upon to make good on his thousand-mile commitment. The point is he will go to the end of his strength for her.

Past what is reasonable. Pushing through the blocks.

I learned after my fall how to get up and keep going after I overshot. Doing my best does me getting up and trying again. Failing, but going for the long haul.

Showing up with love for someone else, doing my best for the one I love or even my own self is what this looks like.

Walking 500 miles and walking 500 more. Or like my Sensei teaches, don’t just strike the target, strike past it and leave all the force where I mean it to go.

I’m not going to be successful every time. But even after I trip, I can get up and do it again and the second strike has a good chance of landing. That’s how love goes when I do my best.