Honorable Mention - George Lamar Wilkie, Age 43

Welcome to our Optimistic Essay category. Here you will find the $1,000 winning contest essay, 5 finalist essays and 15 honorable mention essays and a growing list of hand-picked select essays that readers submitted during our "Why Are You Optimistic About the Future?" contest. This is a special category dedicated to those who took the time to share their touching stories and bright perspectives with HappyNews.com.

What does the future hold for us? Is it full of war or peace? Relentless plagues or improved health? Feast or famine? Dare we hope?

"The Future" has as many definitions as people trying to define it. It can be calculated in centuries by visionaries; in decades by the diligent; even in seconds by those in imminent danger. I believe most of us, though, tend to think of "The Future" in terms of 10 to 20 years… just long enough to see the next generation come of age.

Each generation has its defining moments: those who persevered through the Great Depression; fought and won World Wars I and II; practiced "Duck and Cover" in school during the height of the Cold War; and stared down shadowy enemies in the War on Terror.

With few exceptions, these moments serve to shape the character of the generation, and to serve as fresh lessons for our sons and daughters on which to build ever-greater societies. Of course, there will always be the nay-sayers, the nihilistic Doom-and-Gloom activists who have no vision, no solution, and no hope. Fortunately, they have always been a vocal fraction… like an insect bite that itches and demands our attention, but is otherwise harmless and of little relevance.

What is there in our future? Here's what I see:

I see Americans reuniting into communities, introducing themselves to their neighbors again, and standing together against those determined to redefine American values and undermine our traditions. As a result, I also see more people engaged in the Great Debate, expressing their ideas to their elected representatives, to each other, and getting involved in civil discourse again.

I see parents re-introducing themselves to their children, strengthening their relationships, and focusing on spending more time together. I see couples talking more and working hard to wipe out choking consumer debt… so families can spend money on life experiences instead of "stuff".

I see the sons and daughters of recent generations, raised on a steady diet of materialism and moral relativism, disengaging from the messages of The World and tapping into their spiritual faith, becoming part of something bigger than themselves. I see churches growing, and an increased adherence to a higher standard of morals - a higher code of honor.

I see international coalitions joining to eliminate nuclear threats and pandemic diseases. I see technological leaps and bounds that would leave previous generations dumb-struck with wonder. I see medical breakthroughs and advances in health that allow us to live longer - and better - than any of our ancestors could have imagined.

I see a generation of children, who are increasingly detached from the social prejudices of previous decades; who are comfortable with others regardless of color or ethnic culture.

I see the few aging "stars" of Doom-and-Gloom attracting increasingly smaller crowds of professional protestors and members of the Press. Their message is seemingly everywhere but of little consequence, like the incessant itch of a bug bite.

How do I see all this? It's easy: I can see the future in the eyes of my children, who are full of hope, energy, and big ideas for bright tomorrows. And I would never think to discourage that. In a world seemingly plagued by violence and hatred, America's secret weapon is her vibrancy and hope.

Considering the rate of innovation and the rapid exchange of ideas compared to previous eras, our children - and theirs - have the best opportunity in human history to make the ages-old concept of "Utopia" a real place… and a place where everyone can live.