I am optimistic. But I'm not full of positivity.

If you asked my family and friends, I don’t think they’d describe me as a positive person. I am acutely aware of negativity in the world at large and in my own life. I can rage with the best of them, and my happy place is the boxing gym where I routinely punch a 100# heavy bag (that I often picture as someone or something that’s causing me grief) an hour at a time to work some stuff out. I actually think it is important to acknowledge so-called negative emotions, like anger, grief, and sadness. Denying that they exist or drowning them out with a Pollyanna-attitude doesn’t make them go away, and all feelings need to be felt and dealt with.

But I am an optimistic person. You may not believe there’s a difference between the two, but there is - optimism is a belief that things can be better in the future, while positivity tends to focus on only the good aspects of here and now. When tempered with realism, optimism can be a powerful tool to help us move forward and achieve our goals. I truly do believe that things in my life and the world generally can be better. And this optimism is what motivates me to work towards that better version of things.

My work as a designer can and will create change, in small ways and possibly large - who knows? So I take responsibility for ensuring that the change I create will be for the better. When I shared about my approach to problem solving, I said that I’m always looking for small ways to move the needle towards justice and equity. I do this because of optimism. When I shared about looking to others who are experts so that I can take into account the folks who are directly impacted by my work, I do this because of optimism. When I shared about continuing to learn new skills, techniques, and cultural information, I do this because of optimism.

Optimism is the thing that keeps me moving forward every day - especially in seasons of negativity. By focusing on things that could be better and figuring out how to help make them so, I stay motivated and engaged with my work and the world around me.