Quotes of the Week from Me:

“Work extremely hard for your own satisfaction.”

“Enjoy here while you still are.”

“We are surrounded by our perception of all we see and feel.”

Quotes of the Week from Others:

“It takes time to live. Like any work of art, life needs to be thought about.” – Albert Camus

“The art of noticing will make your life forever wholesome.” – Unknown

“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient.” – Seneca

Quick Optimism:

You don’t have to put on a brave face every day.

Questions of the Week:

Do you know anyone who served in the military? Do you have any friends or family currently serving? Have you lost any loved ones along the way? Today is extremely important. Take a moment, or several, to reflect, remember, and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

I haven’t spent much time scrolling through old articles and newsletters on the Practice Optimism website. Sometimes I do a quick search to make sure I am not reusing quotes. But as we approached Memorial Day, I remembered writing about my family ties to military service in one of the first articles I ever wrote for Practice Optimism.

The identity of Practice Optimism has changed over time. You have all heard me talk about my many interests. Initially, I thought it’d be a combination of history and journalism, which is why there are still some pretty lengthy articles online. This week I decided to include an excerpt from that article as a testament to how frequently I admire and appreciate those who serve and sacrifice for our country. It is a somewhat indirect “tip of my cap” to my grandfathers, one served in the Navy, and the other in the Air Force. Talk about times of thinking less and taking action more. Make it a great weekend.

From August 26, 2022:

“Becoming a parent is the most exciting adventure in life. Becoming a successful parent takes on infinite forms. Without evidence of a clear path to such success, a consistent commitment to hard work, reflection, and adjustment is necessary.

Take a moment to think back to your childhood. Think about your family history. What defines the generation that raised you? Who raised your parents?

My parents grew up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, raised by my grandparents who grew up during the aftermath of World War I. They were born into the Great Depression and their transition from adolescence to adulthood was shaped by the turmoil of World War II. American journalist, Tom Brokaw, credited those born into this era with an undeniable commitment to their country and popularized the well-known term, The Greatest Generation. It was their “suck it up and move forward” mentality that pushed the United States into the beginning of the prosperity it knows today.

When I think about my family history I get hung up on my experiences with decision making, or my freedom to choose. I was raised to dream big and to pursue my interests. Those decisions were made for my grandparents. The answer was war, and enlisting. There was a lack of self-exploration, something I believe is so important to healthy growth for people and families.”

Again, today is a day to honor those committed Americans who served and sacrificed for us. Enjoy a day of remembrance and celebration in their memories.