Charles B. Rangel Overcomes Election Challenges with Optimism

By Dr. Russ,

Optimists never give up on their quest or mission in life.  Optimists keep pursuing the goal despite how many or how high the hurdles they must leap.

I have never talked to or met Representative Charles B. Rangel, U.S. House of Representatives, but I believe based on his actions that he is a “Moment-to-Moment-optimist.”

Yesterday, June 26, 2012, Charles Rangel won re-election to be the Democratic nominee for a 22^nd term in congress.  Rangel represents a district in Harlem, New York’s 13^th district. 

I imagine Mr. Rangel has been an optimistic overcomer all his life.  He has served in congress for 42 years; first elected in 1970.  But, the most recent challenges that he overcame to win this re-election bid had to be the most formidable of his life. 

Many said that at age 82, he should just “hang-it-up.”  Instead Mr. Rangel stayed focused on his goal and life mission.  He overcame the obstacles.

What were these obstacles?

1. Age.  He is 82.
2. Censured by the House Ethics committee that found him guilty of 11 counts of ethical violations in 2010.
3. Redistricting which dramatically changed the demographics of his district extending his Harlem territory to the Bronx making it pre-dominantly Hispanic.
4. Three challengers were on the ballot. 

An effervescent optimist, Rangel promised to prove to any doubters that he was the right choice when he said:

“If they didn’t think after 42 years that I was the best qualified, I promise them that in the next two years they’ll have no question about the fact that we elected the best.”

In the above quote, Rangel speaks humbly of his intent to serve those who were against him and to serve them well.  He didn’t gloat over his victory or otherwise criticize the critics.  No, instead he put forth an optimistic message that he will serve those who were for him and against him.  No wonder he was re-elected.

What obstacles and hurdles are you overcoming?  Have you let them get you down?  If so, grab on to the attitude of Rangel and become an optimist like him.

Christmas Poem: The Night Before Christmas when Optimism was Born

By Dr. Russ

I have taken the classic children's poem "The Night Before Christmas" and used it as a springboard of inspiration to write an adult poem about the birth of optimism at Christmas.  The words are original, but the cadence and rhyming pattern come from the original children's poem. The piece touches upon unemployment, self-pity, lost dreams, helplessness, and the ultimate thrill of victory as we overcome challenges.

A Christmas Poem of Optimism

‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the city,

Not an optimist could be found, just pessimists full of self-pity.

Too many hopes and dreams had been lost in the past,

Any thoughts of optimism could no longer last.

Everywhere we went the unemployed wept;

The stock market had crashed while we had all slept.

The children were worried and parents depressed;

So dire the situation, no thoughts of being blessed.

All hope had been lost and so helpless we felt,

When suddenly a star began glowing so bright, I thought I might melt;

Church bells began ringing from near and afar,

Like the wise men and shepherds we all gazed upon this star.

From up in the heavens the angel’s trumpets called out,

A Christ child is born no need for more self-doubt.

A candle of HOPE now lights the way for our dreams to be returned;

As PREPARATION fires our energy to meet the challenges so easily spurned.

Rays of JOY dazzle in the sparkle as the third candle is lit,

New beginnings and possibilities are about to flow in a bit.

A candle of LOVE has been lit for all to gather round,

As a new spirit of optimism has finally been found.

A gift has been given from way up on high;

Even as God’s son born of Mary had only one place to lie.

A fifth candle is lit on this special birthday;

Such a humble beginning in a manger of hay.

Our dreams now carried in a vessel of hope,

We ready for reality’s circumstances of that very steep slope.

With optimism we climb no fear or pessimism in mind;

The VIEW is what gives us the spirit to be kind.

So, go forward and give to all those in need,

As optimism springs forth like a new planted seed;

Let the seed feed on failure; so strong it will grow,

All mountains will be climbed; no fear will it know.

{This Dr. Russ Buss rewrite of the "Night Before Christmas" first appeared on December 23, 2010.}

The Optimism Stamina of Brad Humphrey

By Dr. Russ,

Monday is Dr. Russ Busster day.  I know you are asking, who is Brad Humphrey?  Today’s “Busster column” uses the recent life experience of Brad Humphrey to illustrate what I mean by optimism stamina.  If after reading about Brad, you have any doubt about the possibility of getting out of a negative moment no matter how challenging or debilitating, in a moment-or two, let me know in a comment.

A real life, clear example of what I mean by optimism stamina -

Recall that in the optimism stamina quiz the highest stamina is demonstrated by those who can get out of the negative, around the roadblock, access their creative zone, etc. in less than a few moments, without hesitation, always, and instantly.  In other words, using the stamina to overcome the negative has becomes almost as automatic and smooth as a virtuoso violinist learning a new tune.   This story is for those of you struggling to get to this level of optimism sophistication no matter how big or seemingly insurmountable the circumstance of life.

I share this mostly to demonstrate that such a level of optimistic skill and stamina is possible and attainable by all of us just plain ordinary folks.

Here is the story of Brad Humphrey:

• On August 13, 2011, a mere 4 months ago, Brad Humphrey was attending a Sugarland concert at the Indiana State Fair when the massive rigging above the stage collapsed on the audience below killing 7 and injuring 40.  While Brad was one of the 40 survivors, he is paralyzed from the waist down and is not expected to ever walk again. Part of his spinal cord was crushed, a rib was collapsed, skin peeled off his foot and ankle, and a painful broken rib was sustained all in a moment.  Some would say a “spirit” devastating moment.

• According to his mother, Brad’s spirit was “down and out for all of a week and a half.”  .

• He then began a regimen of twice a day physical therapy, occupational therapy and regular school work. 

• Now, four months later Brad is learning to ski, has tackled “sit ski” cross country, curling and sled hockey.  Just so you know that I think anyone who takes up Curling at any age in any condition has to be an optimist.

• Brad has many more physical challenges ahead to improve his basic day-to-day functioning.  He plans to graduate from high school on time and to keep his focus on attending college and a career in dentistry.

I hope you are inspired by Brad’s story and the clear demonstration that rapid recovery from the negative, even a life altering one, is possible.  I hope Brad’s story will encourage you to practice your optimism stamina on every day little inconsequential events which we tend to exaggerate and make into life altering one’s.  If you practice enough you will be amazed at how automatic your optimistic perspective becomes.

100 year old runner completes marathon as world population reaches 7 billion

By Dr. Russ

Monday is Dr. Russ Buster Day.  Perhaps you can Busst-up some pervasive pessimism by thinking about these two stories in today’s news, one inspiring and the other challenging.

From the Toronto (AP)

A 100-year-old runner earned a spot in the Guinness World records when he became the oldest person to complete a full-distance marathon. He finished the race in Toronto on Sunday.  Fauja Singh took more than eight hours to cross the finish line.

Sunday's run was Singh's eighth marathon — he ran his first at age 89.  It is never too late!!!

The 5-foot-8 Singh said he looks forward to participating in the torch relay for the 2012 London games just like he did during the relay for the 2004 Athens Games.

Now let’s juxtapose that optimistic accomplishment with the optimistic challenge of the world’s population hitting 7 billion on October 31, 2011.

From David Crary, Associated Press

• According to demographers, the world's population hit:

o       1 billion in 1804,  

o       2 billion in 1927,

o       3 billion in 1959,

o       4 billion in 1974,

o       5 billion in 1987,

o       6 billion in 1998;

o       will reach 8 billion by 2025; and

o       10 billion by 2083.  

Do you see the trend?  Do you see a problem?

Some say, “No cause for alarm,” because we have absorbed the growth so far and for the rich it is totally manageable.   

I think this person(s) must be a modern day Marie Antoinette.   Such a perspective is ironically pessimistic in nature because it fails to recognize a “worst case scenario.”

A former executive director of the U.N. Population Fund describes the 7 billion milestone as a call to action — Without action we will not be able to enable adolescent girls to stay in school and empower women to control the number of children they have. His perspective is essentially optimistic as he sees the opportunity in this crisis:

• "It's an opportunity to bring the issues of population, women's rights and family planning back to center stage," he said in an interview. "There are 215 million women worldwide who need family planning and don't get it. If we can change that, and these women can take charge of their lives, we'll have a better world."

It takes courage it make it to the top

By: Jackie Monroe

It takes courage to get to the top, no matter what your "top" is. Without courage--and the ability to put the fear of failure, rejection, and judgement aside--great heights could never be reached. 

Casteller from Mike Randolph on Vimeo.

Inevitably, everything won't always work out like you've planned. But that shouldn't stop you from attempting to go after your dreams!  Take it from Theodore Roosevelt:

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood. Who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause. Who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." 

Muster up some courage, pack your optimism stamina, and go out and start accomplishing great things!  What are you going to attempt this week?