Realistically Optimistic

Photo by Susiebloom

Hello friends!

March is an interesting month, isn't it? The exciting surge of energy and resolve from January and the new year has leveled off, yet there's a renewed determination pushing its way forward from February lulls and inconsistencies. I don't know about you, but I did not power through the first two months of 2025 without hiccups or curveballs disturbing my peace and plans. However, my goals remain intact and I intend to march through March (cheesy, but true) with an attitude of acceptance and gratitude, remembering that growth is happening, even if it seems imperceptible at times. I am realistically optimistic. Growth is a process...a perfectly imperfect process. Plans evolve, lessons are learned, adjustments are made, new strategies are created and put into place, and blooming continues.

According to Siri, being realistic means, "having...a sensible and practical idea of what can be achieved or expected." Keeping things real is good. Mixing it with a healthy dose of optimism is even better. To be optimistic is to be "hopeful and confident about the future." Yes, realistically optimistic is a good combination.

How can we be REALISTICALLY OPTIMISTIC as the year continues?

For starters, believe. Believe that we're born to bloom and meant to grow, that this life has meaning and purpose, that each of us has something unique to contribute to the BIG picture, and that everything we need to do so is already inside of us. That belief gives us hope and fuels the optimism necessary to keep us moving forward no matter what. Next, recognize. Recognize and be aware of where we are in our life right now. What are our strengths, weaknesses, gifts, talents, and abilities, and how do we hope to use them to make this world a better place in our small but significant corner of it. Identify areas we want to improve, things we want to learn, and how we can stretch beyond our comfort zones to realize our deepest desires and dreams. Then, act. Act on the inspiration, answers, and ideas that come as we ponder those thoughts and questions. Make goals. Create plans. Develop strategies. Do the work necessary to produce the results we seek.

Believe. Recognize. Act.

As we repeat those three things, refusing to give in to frustration when obstacles get in our way and challenges arise, growth happens. Somewhere down the road, we reach our fullest, most complete, bright, and beautiful potential, which is our ultimate goal. But, let's stay focused on right now. As we concentrate on today and consistently do the work, regrouping and beginning again when we falter, stall, or fall flat on our face, we discover that our daily efforts make our life, one week, month, year at a time. This life is for learning, for growing, and becoming the best possible version of our creation. And we're never alone on this journey. We have family, friends, fellow bloomers and travelers, and above all, God and Jesus Christ. Their love, light, grace, and Spirit are always there to comfort, guide, inspire, teach, sustain, and lift us. I can't imagine anything better than that.

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." Theodore Roosevelt

"Recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities." Sophocles

"ACT: Action Changes Things." UK

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Let's be realistically optimistic and make March marvelous, Friends! We are amazing and capable. While we do our best, let's remember that this life is about progression, not perfection. Let's keep blooming where we are planted one day at a time. And, just for fun, in the spirit of March, four leaf clovers, leprechauns, pots of gold, and Lucky Charms (one of my favorite cereals growing up), here's a final quote from Ed Bradley, "Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have."

We're in this together!

P.S. I chose the photo above because, one, I've always loved it and I think the flower is beautiful. Two, the bees seem to be flying toward the center of the flower with such determination to get in there and get the job done. ;D Maybe it's just me, haha.