I try to be an optimist I do see a lot of negativity, but I also see some progress being made.
I think that one of the things that would make tomorrow a better place would be to improve our educational system.
Agreed.
More optimistic than most. I feel like the world moves in a generally positive direction. There are fewer wars and less violence than any other time in history.
Sounds like you might be familiar with Stephen Pinker ... peace!
I'm very optimistic, I would say my future is extremely bright.???
Other than that I think we are on the edge of a second Dark Age....sure I’m optimistic ?
I believe I'm naturally an optimist, as I feel (perhaps delusional) a great sense of control regarding my ability to create happiness in my life (in part by doing good for others).
And every time I exercise, the future is the greatest place on earth.
I like it!
I'm no Pangloss. I remain optimistic on the macro level, while fully aware that we are experiencing a 'disturbance in the force.' The pendulum will swing back ... sooner or later. I tend to believe that many years from now students of history will look at the late 10's much as an adult looks at his/her teenage years and wonders, 'what the hell was I thinking?'
Yes.
If you see negatives everywhere and feel pessimistic often but then look for positives in yourself and others and/or work to be a positive influence on yourself and others......you are a realist and an optimist.
If you don’t even try then you are a nihilist.
I take comfort from the fact that whatever we do, however badly we poison the planet and cut into its animal population, Mother Nature is very probably going to find a way to bounce back. Planet Earth has been through huge asteroid strikes, periods of malodorous atmospheres, ice ages and hothouse periods, and it’s always kept going. So yeah, in the planetary long term, I feel pretty optimistic. For the human race, not so much.
The reasons for that are many, firstly I think we are well on the way towards screwing up what could have been a beautiful garden environment for humans into an urban dystopia. Secondly I feel that we are doing a lot of damage to the planet, with climate change, topsoil erosion, decreasing biodiversity, pollution and plastic waste, insecticide poisons, the list goes on. The price for that will come due, in water wars, refugee crises, and so on. Thirdly I’m concerned we are creating monocultures of humans and animals that will ultimately not prove robust against disease. Fourthly a response to oil crises hasn’t really been forthcoming. I could’ve made the list longer.
We’ve yet to see that mankind can react effectively to the crises facing it. We have a long way to go in renewable energy and tackling CO2 emissions. There are many other challenges coming in the next century, mostly a consequence of continuing modernisation and development.
That sums it up for me. Well said!
Exactly. Our anthropocentric position is irrelevant with regard to both planet and cosmos. Unless we blow it up I am sure the planet will eventually shrug us off like a dog shaking off fleas.
What or who's future? My future? Your future? My brother's future? The future of Mankind, Life on Earth...? Not specific enough for me to answer.
I suppose ultimately everything that is now or will be alive, will also one day be dead, so in that frame of reference, not looking too good.
But the Universe will continue to exist without me, or you, or humanity, or any living thing, or even the Earth, Sun & Stars... so there's that.
I get to sleep in tomorrow; I'm pretty stoked about that.
@Donotbelieve
Thanks - back at'cha.
@Donotbelieve
Connecting is good. This community lends itself to that nicely.
Sleep is my most happy of happy places (and times). Even the moments just before are perfect. If I get to sleep in, even the moments after are delightful.
My nemesis is my Alarm Clock(s).
@Donotbelieve agreed!
I try to but the vicissitudes of existence can really leave you with blinders after awhile that tend to grey out some of the brighter aspects of life. It's a battle to keep hope for the future for but a worthy one.
There is beauty and harmony everywhere. Whatever changes occur happen because they have to happen, and they are all good. Time is an illusion anyway.
My insane mother passed away yesterday. Free at last Free at last. Thank god almighty . I am free at last. Very optimistic for my personal future. I survived her. My brother did not. The world? America? Not so much
I am so sorry for your pain...living with insanity and being free...I can say that I know that ‘life’ deeply and personal! One day, I hope that you can find the ‘gifts’...that came with that experience! I did! Sister did not! I know your grief...
Wow, must be rough. Sorry to hear that
@Don71, @Freedompath Thank you. There is sisterhood here as well as some sweet brothers.
It's all in how you look at the world. If you focus on the good then that's the outlook you will possess, optimistic. If you focus on the bad then you'll have that outlook, fearful and pessimistic. To the believers I say, "the road to Revelation is paved with people." Meaning that everything we do will still lead to the eventuality of death. Live your life, smile and sieze the day!
Personally about my personal goals and relationships, sure.
Politically, socially, as a citizen of the United States, planet Earth, and the human species, not even a little bit in the short-term, and only mildly in the long-term. as I see a lot of disheartening cycles repeated by our species repeatedly, and if my perception of our current point in the cycle are correct, it's going to get really really bad, get a little better, massive war, stabilize, get worse, civil and cultural (domestic and only somewhat violent) revolution, get better, energy crisis, get worse, get better, and then it'll be somewhere between 2088 and 2095, so massive commercial tech boom, bust, growth, recession, and then we'll be back where we are now, around 2120.