The Optimism of Peta Murphy MP, Federal Member for Dunkley
"I am optimistic every time I go to the local schools in my electorate of Dunkley. The children are all so bright, well-spoken and sensitive. It gives me real hope that they are prepared for the challenges they will face in the world, and that they will be the leaders of tomorrow we need."
Beautifully said by Peta Murphy MP, the Federal Member for Dunkley in the Australian Parliament.
I asked Peta what makes her optimistic. What makes you optimistic?
Optimism through the eyes of the young is a theme we love at The Centre for Optimism.
As the Dalai Lama said to us, "A more optimistic attitude is key to the care of teenagers and children through this pandemic. A pessimistic attitude is very bad. Helping children to stay hopeful and still optimistic despite the difficulties is very important."
Catherine Misson told us, “If you look through the eyes of children you see limitless possibilities that tantalise the curious spirit with which they came into the world. How do we preserve that innate capacity? Optimism: enthusing our youth with an empowered view to the horizon no matter the challenges right in front of them. This is the source of our greatest potential as a society - optimistic citizens who believe they can and will craft a future worth inheriting.”
Paul Polman, then CEO of Unilever, told me, “The future lies in the hands of the younger generation and that gives me huge cause for optimism. Wherever I go in the world, the young people I meet are engaged with the issues and challenges we face and focussed on finding solutions. Above all, they are driven by a deep sense of purpose. They may only represent 50% of today, but fortunately young people are 100% of tomorrow, and that is reason to celebrate.”