A Commentary by Victor Perton
“My optimism is shaped by both intrinsic and extrinsic influences. Intrinsically, a natural curiosity and an open mind have always drawn me toward possibility rather than limitation. Extrinsically, my early career working with very unwell children taught me that even in the most challenging circumstances, children instinctively search for the light. Their resilience inspires me to do the same, to look for what can be done rather than what can’t."
That's what Cameron Geddes told me when I asked what makes him optimistic. Cameron is a Director of the Geddes Group.
Cameron’s reflection moved me deeply. It expresses a natural optimism, shaped and strengthened through life experience into something powerfully infectious. His perspective reminds me that optimism is often affirmed in moments of challenge. To see seriously unwell children seeking light is to witness hope in its most instinctive form. That vision of children naturally reaching toward the light is a call to all of us. It says: even in the darkest of circumstances, optimism is possible and powerful. Cameron’s story is a beautiful affirmation of The Optimism Principle, which holds that optimism is not only a personal advantage but a societal necessity. His lived optimism is the kind that inspires others to act with courage, to lead with purpose, and to lift those around them.