The best defence is an optimist offense

As I continue to make my way slowly north, I realize that the journey is the point, not the destination.

I have lots of time to reflect on several topics. Outside of my intense hopefulness that the winds are dropping and we are on the verge of spinnaker season and my intense disappointment when my roof leaked in a squall, I have been thinking a lot about hope, belief, and optimism.

Wandering around islands like Canouan or villages like Chateaubelair, I have been watching—the people, their interactions, and their energy.

We spend so much of our time in a small ecosystem. This statement is not about being judgemental or pejorative, as I do it too. Even when we think we are “getting out there,” the truth is we are still in our small ecosystem

So what is the point?

One of the things I have been thinking about is where humans rest. What is the spot in which we return without effort? It is a complicated question. Western culture teaches us to be skeptical and cautious, suspicious and curious, and to ask the next why.

But I have noticed this is not the same for everyone everywhere. Some communities or counties have a resting place of trusting optimism. We would look at it and maybe call it naive. But it is not.

So, I have been thinking about this difference and trying to be much more optimistic, welcoming, and hopeful. But I have realized that this requires effort, focus, and intention.

I have started to think of optimism and hopefulness as aggressive positions. You need to lean into them with intention, fight for them, and stay committed to them. In other words, they are not my trained resting place.

But this battle is worth it. This aggressiveness has benefits. The richness of my interactions with people is different, as is the energy created, the vibe, and the atmosphere.

Some communities and people grow up, and this is their resting place. Spending time in communities like this does not take much time to sense that something is different. There is a distinct feeling.

This last week, I have noticed a difference when I fight aggressively toward optimism and hope.

It is a battle worth fighting.