Yes, I am still here

Hello friends, 

It’s been far too long since my last check-in, and I wanted to take a moment to provide an update. I’m happy to share that my commitment to optimism remains as strong as ever. I continue to stay actively involved as a proud member of the Share-a-Smile Optimist Club, and I also help support the scholarship programs with the West Tacoma Optimist Club—efforts that bring real hope and opportunity to our community.

Most importantly, I continue to share daily messages of optimism on Facebook, as I’ve done for the past eighteen years. I actively manage five pages and one group, all dedicated to spreading positivity. I’d love for you to join me there so we can share the journey of optimism together. 

Just click the links below to like, follow, and stay connected. Thank you!

Join An Optimist Club - Inspiration from Linda Vaught Disney

West Coast Region - Optimist International

PNW Optimist Clubs

Share-a-Smile Optimist Club

Pacific Central District - Optimist International

Experience Optimism

2019: Expect only the best

Every day should begin with an optimistic thought because, as Helen Keller said, "Optimism is the
faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."

We should, therefore, think only of the best, work only for the best and expect only the best every day; but one might ask, is that a realistic way to live? Wouldn't this be setting ourselves up for a lot of disappointment?

Boom! That's where the pessimism sets in.

When we question our ability to see the best in the world around us, we question our belief in optimism and inadvertently, our attitude shapes our lives in a negative way.

As 2019 begins, I resolve to find new ways to experience the wonders of this amazing world in which we live. I resolve to keep the skepticism at bay. I resolve to expect only the best and I invite you to do the same. Make a promise to yourself to share your optimism with others and then keep that promise. Do your best to make every day the best day of the year.

Happy New Year, friends!

Share optimism every day, especially on Thanksgiving Day

As Optimist Club members, we share our hope and positive thoughts with all around us.

Reciting the Optimist Creed is only one of the feel-good rituals that bind Optimist Clubs together under the umbrella of Optimist International. Programs that make a positive impact on youth, community and ourselves are other reasons that we are united.

Most of all, we come together to share optimism, and that is what we are thankful for today.

We appreciate all of those who serve as Optimist Club member volunteers in an effort to make our world a better place to live. We appreciate the hope that you share with others. We appreciate the optimism that you practice. We appreciate you. Thank you, and have a happy Thanksgiving Day.

Be good. Do good. See good.

What's the top resolution that an optimist should make as 2018, the new year, begins?

She or he should resolve to look for the good in everything. 

Who am I kidding? Everyone should make that resolution, and then we would all be optimists.

Every day we hear and see news reports of hardship, strife, violence, war, and terror. We hear of disrespect from and at the top levels of our governments. Flowing through our Facebook timeline, the websites we visit, and even on network television, we see stories that make us ask is this real or fake news?

It takes a good dose of skepticism to sort through the headlines that find their way into our view. It takes optimism to know the world is better than is being portrayed.

The world is full of good people, good projects, and good ideas that when brought to the forefront will make it a better place to live. As a member of an Optimist Club, I vow to do that every day. I promise to think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.

When we share optimism with others, we fill space with positive thoughts and help others see beauty in the world.  We block out the negativity. We proactively look for the good. 

I invite you to do that with me and hope that you will invite others to join you too. 

Be good. Do good. See good. Share optimism. Be an optimist.

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2018.

Merry Christmas, Optimists and Friends

From the team at Optimist Clubs in the Pacific Northwest: 

We send simple wishes for a wonderful Christmas Day. 

#ShareOptimism

Enjoy a Christmas Eve playlist and share optimism

Are you ready? It's Christmas Eve and your family and friends are looking forward to the annual gathering. Music makes any family affair better and what could be better than a pop playlist of Christmas songs?

Please enjoy Bruno Mars, Charlie Puth, and Ed Sheeran in this fun 20-track offering. Grab a Christmas cookie, a warm beverage, and enjoy.

Of course, if you are a last minute shopper, we encourage you to avoid the crowds, stay right at home and click here to purchase the perfect gift: the gift of optimism.

A Friend of Optimist membership allows the recipient to share optimism throughout the year, on their own terms. When they want to attend a meeting or event, they can; but they can also stay home and know they are helping children in their community just through their association with the optimism movement. Give that hard-to-buy-for person the gift that makes a difference: make them a Friend of Optimist.

Don't forget! We want to know how you and your Optimist Club are sharing optimism this season. Click here to send a note and picture. Merry Christmas!

Visit another Optimist Club and find some Christmas cheer

I am a member of an Optimist Club in the Pacific Northwest District and sometimes I visit other Districts and other Optimist Clubs in Optimist International. That was the case on this fine afternoon.

While visiting the Optimist Club of St. Charles, Missouri, I had the opportunity to see the High School Madrigals perform, "Fruitcake."



One of the most important things we do as Optimist Clubs is gather together as a group to share fellowship and learn about our communities so that we can meet its needs with optimism. It's not unusual to hear from various youth groups because, hey, youth is our thing; but it is always extra special to enjoy a performance by the young people in our community. Thank you so much, St. Charles Madrigals, for sharing the Christmas spirit with all of those around you.

If you get the opportunity to visit an Optimist Club away from home, please do. You'll make new friends and learn about new projects and new ways to do regular programs. The Pacific Northwest District includes Optimist Clubs in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, so a club in this large district may merely travel across a state or provincial line to get a taste of something different. I even remember when it was encouraged to visit other clubs within your own zone or region.

Take a road trip and share optimism. Learn to make your club more effective by discussing programs with others. Call it a research project and make it part of your Optimist Club's strategic plan. I believe it is a project worth completing and it will help your club extend its service well into the future.

Once you've traveled, please take the time to share your experiences with us so that we can enlighten others. Send  us a paragraph or two, and a picture or two and we'll publish it here, on Facebook, and Twitter.

Thank you and enjoy the holidays!

Hope floats at the Optimist International Convention

This week, the Optimist magazine was received by Optimist Club members around the world. On the back cover was this inspirational picture of what many think of when they imagine a trip to Albuquerque: the Balloon Festival.

We may not get to see the Balloon Festival in full force - it takes place in October - but when the Optimist International Convention opens on July 6-8, 2017, there will be enough hope and optimism to float a million balloons.

In addition to carrying out the business of the organization and being informed for our upcoming year, sharing optimism is what the convention is all about. Optimist Clubs come together once a year to share hope and plan for the future.

Click here to download the agenda.

Click here to make hotel reservations. 

Click here to register online. 

Early bird registration ends on May 1. Please register today to save.

Registration will be accepted online until July 5 and onsite registration will be available at that time.

Keep up to date with the 99th Annual International Convention by visiting http://optimist.org/e/member/convention1.cfm.

Let's work together

Reciting the Optimist Creed will always lift your spirits and give you hope. Today's post is to also give you a reminder to talk about good things: health, happiness and prosperity.

It's rather easy, given today's political climate, to talk about negative topics. Fake news, alternative facts, and indiscriminate practices seem to take the forefront.

As optimists, we must fight back. We've often said, why can't there be more good news on the television and in the newspaper? Why can't there be more good news in my Facebook feed?

I ask, why aren't Optimist Clubs more widely sharing their projects and positive way of life?

As I pondered that question this morning, I realized that in the Pacific Northwest District, only fifty percent of the Optimist Clubs have an online presence. That's not enough!

Here's my offer!
Let me help you get your Optimist Club online. There are low and no-cost options for your Optimist Club to pursue.
Send me a note and let's get started today.

Let's share optimism by talking about health, happiness, and prosperity to every person we meet, in person, online and beyond. Let's work together to make the real news good news.