Select Entry- Anonymous

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.

Life can be delicious. The excitement of the unknown can either grip you with fear or stir a magical curiosity inside of you. Who will we meet? How will we be affected? What impact will we have on others?

The other day I was happily surprised to read that child prodigies still exist. Like the natural talents of Van Gough or Mozart, kids are writing books as young as five (Flying Fingers!) and mastering the guitar, singing in the opera! This makes me optimistic. To think that a new generation of vibrant artists is on the rise. We can look for young scientists, budding dancers, intuitive environmentalists. See all that we have to look forward to - to enjoy NOW. The upcoming generation is growing up with hybrid cars, strong recycling values and more exposure to healthful practices like mainstreamed yoga.

What's not to get excited about?

Optimism hides behind every corner. The phone rings; who could it be? Maybe it's Ed McMahon and his check-awarding posse. We enter a contest, and all we have to do is wait. Voila! Optimism is born. I am optimistic about the future because it feels good, plain and simple. And it's good for everybody else!

Dr. David Hawkins states in his book based on energy research, The Eye of the I, that one individual who lives and vibrates to the energy of optimism and a willingness to be nonjudgmental of others will counterbalance the negativity of 90,000 individuals who calibrate at the lower weakening levels. Wow! Just imagine the potential impact we all have.

Optimism is the greatest example of exercising choice. A gift we humans have. The option to think positively always exists. It would be silly not to choose a path that feels good and radiates hope and wellness to others.