As many of you know, during the day I teach Spanish language at the University to students aged 18-22 mainly. I always am learning so much about the younger generation and have seen so many shifts in these last twenty years.

Yesterday we were talking about the future, technology, etc. I asked both classes the same question. What will life be like in 2070? I was amazed that my first class had a lot of depressing ideas of the future. They envisioned a world without much nature, world orders being changed, some envisioned complete destruction. The mood in the class shifted drastically from what was happening only 10 minutes earlier. It saddened me, because I don’t see that world.

I assumed that the same thing would happen in the second class. And it didn’t. The first person who spoke talked about something positive and magical. Then it followed by another comment. I was amazed how the mood in the room was fun and joyous. They had an optimistic look on the future.

The curious thing about this is that both classes have the optimistic outlooks with students. In my first class, those students didn’t speak up first. They kept it to themselves, and the ones that were more pessimistic of the world spoke first. It caused a chain reaction. In the second class, it started out positive and stayed that way. I learn so much from my students and I am always grateful for what they teach me about life.

So…today as you go out in the world, are you going to be the one that speaks up about a wonderful event in your life? Are you going to be the one that starts the wave of happiness? What an opportunity to change the world. We have it every day in how we decide to express ourselves. Let’s bring to this world joy and happiness. And let us reflect that out to our youth. They are waiting for so many of us to step up to that. Let’s show them what is possible.

Peace to you all today as you create one more day of beauty,

Monica