Category Archives: Optimism

What Disability? This Girl Has a Super-Ability!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by russtowne

“A first-grader who was born without hands has won a national penmanship award”, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. “Annie Clark, a 7-year-old at Wilson Christian Academy in West Mifflin, Pa., got a trophy and $1,000 as one of two national winners … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Inspiring, Optimism, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Annie Clark, beat all the other students in her school, daunting, daunting challenges, Excellent Penmanship, grasps the pencil between her arms, Nicholas Maxim, Nicholas Maxim Special Award, penmanship, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, super-abilities, Super-Ability, warmed the hearts of many, West Mifflin, Wilson Christian Academy, Zaner-Bloser | Leave a comment

In Places No One Has Ever Been

Posted on April 18, 2012 by russtowne

“The one who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been.” –Albert Einstein

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged Albert Einstein, Einstein, find himself, follows the crowd, in places no one has ever been, walks alone | Leave a comment

Sometimes…

Posted on April 18, 2012 by russtowne

Sometimes when things appear to be falling apart, they may actually be falling into place. I saw the above comment somewhere recently and wrote it down. It has sometimes been true for me and hopefully for you too.

Posted in Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged appear, appearances, falling apart, falling into place | 1 Comment

People Who Rekindle the Inner Spirit

Posted on April 17, 2012 by russtowne

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” -Albert Schweitzer (I … Continue reading →

Posted in Inspiring, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Quotes I Love | Tagged a helping hand, a kind word, a reassuring look, A.Word.A.Day, Albert Schweitzer, Anu Garg, burst into flame, fire, flame, hand, Helping, inner fire, inner fire goes out, inner flame, kind, kind word, lit, lit my fire, making the world a better place, ready smile, reassuring, rekindle, Schweitzer, smile, thank, thank you, thankful | Leave a comment

Never Too Old

Posted on April 14, 2012 by russtowne

I just saw a fun and inspiring short video of a bunch of 66-80 year olds from a retirement community form a flash (or should I say “dance”?) mob at a local shopping mall. Looks like their having fun while … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Humor, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Making the World a Better Place, Optimism, Unexpected Pleasures, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged dance mob, Dulles, entertaining exercise, flash mob, fun, never too old, retirement community, seniors, shopping mall, video, young at heart | Leave a comment

I P O Y

Posted on April 11, 2012 by russtowne

I occassionally write the letters “I P O Y” on the bottom of emails and other written communicationss to one of my sons. The reason for doing so takes a little explaining but involves Fred Rogers of “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, Friendship, Gratitude, Healing, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged anxieties, anxiety, Audiobook, author, better world, Caring, children, childrens', compassionate, confidence, confident, death, empathetic, fear, Fred Rogers, Friendship, gentle, I P O Y, IPOY, kids, kind, letters, Life, loving, making the world a better place, Mister Roger's, Mr Roger's Neighborhood, Mr. Rogers' Neigborhood, safe, safe space, self-worth, show, son, sons, television, their world, troubling, TV, world, writer | Leave a comment

“I will die in the midst of doing what I love to do…”

Posted on April 2, 2012 by russtowne

“I will die in the midst of doing what I love to do and that is using my voice and using my life to try to inspire other people to live the best of theirs.” –Oprah Winfrey As an investment … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Inspiring, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Quotes I Love, Random Thoughts | Tagged 101, 101 mistakes, a recipe for success, admired, admit, analyses, business, businesses, die, doing what I love to do, full and rewading life, full and rewarding, generosity of spirit, gutsy, Inspiration, inspire, investment manager, Life, live, Love, mistakes, Oprah, Oprah Show, Oprah Winfrey, OWN, OWN Network, perserverent, rewarding, Success, successful, willing to admit mistakes, words and actions are in alignment, works hard | 3 Comments

Hunger Games

Posted on April 1, 2012 by russtowne

I saw the Hunger Games movie last night. I liked it a lot and felt it captured the tone of the first book well. It showcases the best and worst of humankind. The power of hope, of trust, of love. … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Creativity, Friendship, Healing, LIfe Lessons, Optimism, Random Thoughts, Relationship Lessons Learned, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged beneath the surface, book, divide, dividers, eveil, Friendship, heal, heal a wound, hug, humankind, Hunger Games, kindness, Life, Love, Loyalty, misery of slavery, movie, poverty, power, power of speaking simple truths, rage, rage of injustice, reassure, reassuring, ripples, simmering, slavery, smile, strangers, thin veneer, thin veneer of civilization, Trust, truth, truths, unite, uniters, vanity | 5 Comments

Getting Along Just Fine

Posted on March 29, 2012 by russtowne

A woman in Alaska has a fairly crowded back porch. A Bald Eagle, fox, and her two cats are all sharing the space in peace. I wonder how much longer it will be until humankind can do the same? The … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs & Other Wonderful Creatures, Optimism, Vids & Stories That Touched Me | Tagged Alaska, Bald Eagle, can't we all just get along?, cats, critters, fox, humankind, peace, porch, sharing space, space, video, woman | Leave a comment

Cheer Up! Dare to Be An Optimist!

Posted on March 23, 2012 by russtowne

Author Ridley makes a bunch of compelling arguments why things keep getting better. If you need a dose of emotional sunshine or just like to focus on the bright side, I highly recommend the article from the Reader’s Digest, th … Continue reading →