Choosing Hope Have you ever known someone who always seems to be complaining about something? I have met several people like that in my lifetime. Some people just tend to always look at the negative and completely miss the rosier side of the picture. We often refer to these people as pessimists or "the the glass is half empty" folks. While these people would prefer to be called "realists" rather than "pessimists" the truth of the matter is that they tend to move past the positive aspects of reality in favor of exposing people’s weaknesses and less noble qualities. Of course the reason they often approach life from this perspective is really out of convenience. It takes far less creativity and is much easier to criticize and fault find than it is to say an encouraging word or to discuss the admirable qualities of one person or another. Consistently saying nice things about others requires an amount of energy and effort that most people are simply not willing to expend. And it is a fact that people tend to find a bit of juicy gossip or an insightful criticism more entertaining than hearing about the virtues of an individual or all the great things happening in one’s own life. This truth can be clearly demonstrated in our media outlets. When you turn on the news, read the newspaper, or read the internet headlines what kinds of stories do you find? Are they stories filled with happy endings and silver linings? No. What you find are stories of natural disasters, murders, robberies and a host of other terrible happenings. Why? Because it is a fact that people are more interested in bad news than they are in good news. And in our interpersonal relationships this tendency holds true as well. Our community is no different. When someone commits a crime people talk. When a vagrant comes into town we all know about it. And when our local teens get into trouble it becomes a hot topic of conversation over breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Since my family moved here we have heard a lot of talk about the teens in the community. It seems that they have a knack for getting into trouble and working their way into the everyday conversations of the local citizens here in Topock. In fact I heard about the failings of the local youth before I even moved here. Word travels fast in a small town. But I have to ask a question. What are we doing to help our young people? You see it is easy to point a finger and vocalize disapproval with the actions of our youth, but what are we doing to help them make better choices? I contend that there are many good kids in Topock who would make better choices if they had more options. Yes, some of the kids here will make poor choices no matter what opportunities they are presented. But there are many others who would make better choices if they had some. And I believe as the wiser, and more compassionate members of this great community provide more options for our teens we will begin to see a notable difference in the attitudes and actions of our youth. I believe that if we work together we can make a difference in the lives of our young people. But we must work hand and hand, shoulder to shoulder, and side by side. But then again I guess that some would say that I am a hopeless optimist, because I see the glass as half full. I believe we can make a difference. | 
I just want to add that we have some amazing teens in our community that no one ever talks about. The only way they will get noticed is if they mess up (how sad is that). Let's start highlighting the good ones for a change. I work with some amazing teens at the school and I just LOVE THEM. You might want to mention that a new music club is starting and 95% of the kids signed up are TEENS (praise God)! I just need a bass and a decent drum set and I'll have a making of a band. These teens flocked to the music, why? Because someone CARES and started something for THEM! Go figure.
p.s. I love you hubby!