Good evening Houston! The Mad Houstonian, here.
In June 2015 I found a new bank, unique to Texas, unique in its history, and unique in its presentation and offering once you step in the door of any given branch...My post about Frost Bank might cause a few folks who come across it to run for a safe space, but that's their problem...
Me? I just feel bad that I have yet to do much more with my Checking and Savings accounts, 5 years later, than use them as places to stash my paychecks, tax refunds, and other funds, for a few days until needed to pay bills, buy food and take care of other needs.
A bank with a long history of involvement in the community and building relationships with customers? Optimism is a major part of all of that.
They explain it this way:
"For 150 years, we’ve built our bank on the belief that each and every customer is significant. And because of that belief, every single thing we do is aimed at making people’s lives better—from designing easy-to-use technology to inspiring optimism."
In August 2018 they set forth something they called "The 30-Day Optimism Challenge" (I will have more to say about that, below, including my own challenge to anyone coming across THIS post.).
"When people feel optimistic, they’re more likely to experience better physical, emotional and even financial well-being. Best of all, choosing optimism is not only personally transformative but also highly contagious."
Among other things, those who take the challenge will be encouraged to perform 30 acts of optimism.
Their aim is to foster generosity, build community, and change perspectives.
Frost believes optimism can change the world, and they want participants in their challenge to help them prove it.
The curious can learn more, starting here (The Project has grown & evolved since I first linked to it, including a new web url) and at The Texas Optimism Project, over at Texas Monthly, where they believe "what optimism looks like in everyday life is not a rosy outlook, but resilience."
And that brings me to Houston's own Culture Map, and the latest creation of a local artist.
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