My Roots of Optimism

My Roots of Optimism

The year was 1947. Location: India. India was on the cusp of independence from over 100 years of British rule but was scarred by partition into India and Pakistan. People were being ruthlessly dragged out of their own homes and getting their heads chopped off with a dagger. An innocent baby was trapped in all of this. Her neighbors and family friends were brutally slaughtered. The baby’s mom had already been warned that the same fate would occur to them. Like 40 million other people, the family left their home with fear in their eyes, and hope of reaching India, someday. The streets where kids used to play were now drenched in blood. They longed for helping hands, but their pleas went unheard. The family somehow managed to reach the Indian city of Amritsar and lived in a cramped refugee camp for many months. The time of a life that was supposed to be filled with laughter, happiness, and joy for the baby was replaced by the sounds of grief and depression. That baby was my grandmother.

Like a rose amongst the thorns, nonviolence advocate, Mahatma Gandhi, was doing his best to curb the violence and spread a message of peace and optimism. Whether it was Indian values, culture, upbringing, or Mahatma Gandhi's message, it made my grandparents more humble, tolerant, compassionate, and most importantly, optimistic.

Even after losing everything, and living a harsh refugee life, my grandma’s family always stayed positive, and looked on the brighter side of things. Instead of being disappointed, they felt happy to be alive and looked forward to a successful life. My grandma and her siblings worked hard, never looked back, and became well-educated and prosperous.

Life has not been very favorable to her. My grandma lost her husband early, however she stayed strong and single-handedly raised her children. Thereafter, she moved to the U.S., and is now taking care of us. Through these setbacks, my grandma stayed strong and never lost hope.

These values of compassion, hope, and strength were passed onto my parents and are now my roots of optimism. I am glad to note that even in modern times, optimism is as thriving as ever, and it brings me hope to see so many organizations working to bring a positive change in our community.

I am a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and fund-raise to fulfill wishes of critically ill children. This brings them happiness and hope for their recovery. I also teach dance routines to mentally and physically challenged kids through a nonprofit organization called Jeena. This helps them integrate better with society, and it improves their motor, memory, and social skills.

Through these activities I am bringing optimism to those who are unable to live a typical life but none of these kids have given up. Despite being handicapped, or ill, they find something that makes them happy and gets them through the day – be it dancing, singing, or looking forward to their wish getting fulfilled.

By virtue of Indian values and grandmother’s influence, my roots of optimism run deep and strong, and positive experiences continue to nurture them. I want to spread optimism and bring a positive change to my community. And while I can't solve all of the problems in the world, if I can be the reason a handicapped kid feels welcomed in society, I am doing my part. If I can be the reason that a severely ill child regains hope for their recovery, I am doing my part. If I can be the reason that someone smiles and laughs and passes it on, I am doing my part. If everyone did their own part, optimism will continue to thrive.