Opt For Optimism Update 2020

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.

 

A new "Optimism Starts With You" mural has gone up on a wall in the East End District, on the southeast-facing wall on the corner of Canal and Navigation.

GONZO247 is from this community, and the mural focuses on notion that optimism may start with one individual...you, or me, for example, but, as Culture Map points out, "it can easily ripple out through small acts and thoughtful moments", therefore changing the people and communities around us.

The mural's silhouette is in a location that is meant to encourage passersby to take a moment out of their day for a photo op.

So, if you are driving by, pull over...On foot? Take a break, there's a bench at the curb.

Don't live in the East End? That's no excuse! I live in the SW corner of Sharpstown, and don't drive. It took me 4 Metro Buses to get there.

Didn't cost me a penny, either, since this whole Wuhan Flu thing has Metro forgoing charging to ride the bus, or train.

Learn a little bit more about the artist, and the mural, in this piece by Culture Map.

 Now, about that "Challenge" mentioned earlier...

In August 2018 Frost Bank created a 30 Day Optimism Challenge and they began it by asking participants to come up with 5 things they are grateful for, write them on a sticky note, and place the list someplace where you will see it every day. 

I was not sure what would result from my doing so, but I decided to "Opt For Optimism" and participate in the Optimism Challenge and see what inspiration, creative, personal and otherwise might come out of the experience.

I wrote a blog post for each and every day of the challenge, including many photos along the way.

I wrote an introductory post, and the Challenge series, itself, begins here, with each post linking to the next. 

I invite you along for the ride and invite you to comment and share as the spirit moves you, but, most importantly,

I invite you to go on the journey, yourself, and take the challenge.

Then check out the Optimism Project Websites linked above.

 

 

Comments

[Ellen Pilch]

Cool mural, but I wouldn't take 4 buses anywhere :)

[Kiril Kundurazieff]

LOL!, Ellen.

4 is nothing. I've done it many times in my life.

As you know I don't drive, and lived my first 52 years in SoCal, the 1st 42 of those in the far east part of Los Angeles County, the last 10, in the OC.

I used an evolving, eventually interconnected, bus/commuter rail, system that allowed me to travel all over 5 counties.