Everyday Optimism Ordinary Optimist

In today's episode, Summer shares a more personal story about her mother's diagnosis of, and 8-year fight with, breast cancer. Last Friday at a doctor's appointment, Summer was incredibly inspired by the doctor's optimism and positivity regarding her mother's cancer.

Cancer...fucking sucks. It just does. Trying to cope with the fear of losing a loved one is extremely difficult and there is not a one-size-fits-all. What works for one person may not work for another and optimism may not be the answer for some people. Everyone is different when it comes to figuring out how to handle fear, grief, and the idea of death. Summer uses optimism as her coping mechanism as well as to create a healthy perspective of life and death that works for her. Being optimistic does not mean you aren't dealing with your fear or grief; nor does it mean you are living in a false reality. Optimism has allowed Summer to focus on, and ENJOY, the present moment and the time she does have with her mother. After all, any of us could die at any moment, so what matters most is what we do with what we are given RIGHT NOW; what perspectives or feelings we choose to have in each and every "right now". By the time "the future" is happening, it will have turned into another "right now". We can use tools like optimism to frame "right now" in a positive perspective; or to find the silver-linings and focus on things that are truly important like how grateful we are for what we have and how much we have loved. (Ramblings that might make sense but are ideas too big to really think about right now...more later). Basically, you don't have to fear what is to come because it will actually be right now and you will be able to handle it. Training your brain to be optimistic in the face of difficult situations allows you to bypass the "I hate life and what is happening to me stage" and jump to the "this really sucks and it's okay to be sad but I am also incredibly grateful for everything I actually DID have/have learned from this."

--The Book of Joy (His Holiness Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu) has a really great chapter on grief that I would recommend anyone to read.
--The app Headspace has a pack specifically for grief that has gotten great reviews as well.

In this episode Summer begins by finishing the story of the rumpl blanket and the homeless woman. Again, be sure to check out www.rumpl.com and support amazing companies that believe in doing good and spreading good in this world. She then talks a little more about optimism, the importance of gratitude, and shares a BEAUTIFUL story of an act of kindness (and being a FREAKING AWESOME HUMAN).

Here are a couple other companies that help the world socially or environmentally that I love supporting:
1. Cotopaxi - Gear for Good. https://www.cotopaxi.com
"We create innovative outdoor products and experiences that fund sustainable poverty alleviation, move people to do good, and inspire adventure. Cotopaxi funds solutions that address the most persistent needs of those living in extreme poverty"
2. United by Blue. https://unitedbyblue.com
"For every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from our world's oceans and waterways. And by that, we don’t mean writing checks or accepting donations. Our pledge to remove one pound of trash means rallying our team and like-minded volunteers to pick up plastic bottles, tires, appliances, and even abandoned trucks, from rivers, streams, creeks, and beaches."
3. Tentree. https://www.tentree.ca
"Ten trees are planted for every item purchased. Our goal is to plant 1 billion trees by 2030."

Link to photograph of guy giving free hugs blindfolded: https://www.instagram.com/p/4CartLq-tN/

Send me YOUR stories!! I want to hear and share your stories of times you've employed optimism to better difficult situations or beautiful moments in your everyday, things that made you smile or your journey to becoming more optimistic!! ESPECIALLY acts of kindness (not directly related to optimism BUT they are my favorite and part of my mission to spread more good).
Email: ordinaryoptimist@gmail.com
Instagram: @ordinaryoptimist

Remember:
A) CHOOSE happiness; you have the power to choose how you want to feel or react about anything.
B) Be GRATEFUL. Always. For all things right now and all things yet to come.
C) Get out and smile and make eye contact with someone. Trust me, it may be awkward, but it will definitely be beautiful and awesome.

In this episode (the very first episode!!)Summer begins by going a little bit into "why optimism" before telling the story that really motivated her to start this podcast in the first place. Be sure to check out www.rumpl.com and support amazing companies that believe in doing good and spreading good in this world.

Link to "the photograph" discussed in podcast. Trigger warning: this image is incredibly upsetting but important to see as this is many people's reality around the world.
http://100photos.time.com/photos/kevin-carter-starving-child-vulture

Send me YOUR stories!! I want to hear and share your stories of times you've employed optimism to better difficult situations or beautiful moments in your everyday, things that made you smile or your journey to becoming more optimistic!!
Email: ordinaryoptimist@gmail.com
Instagram: @ordinaryoptimist