Optimist Speech

This speech took second place in our seventh grade speech meet for and Optismists' Club. I was pretty proud of it, especially since no one helped me with revisions or anything. Mom and Dad were in Washington D.C., so it was all my changes and revisions. Hope you enjoy!

Why Me?
Why Not?

Why me? Why not? “I wish we could open our eyes, to see in all directions at the same time. Oh what a beautiful view, if you were never aware of what was around you,” one of my favorite bands, Death Cab for Cutie sings. It always gets me. Why? I believe it is the part about not being aware of everything, and discovering new sights, new views. Like opening your eyes to a new world for the first time. I don’t exactly remember what seeing and learning so many new things was like when I was little. But I like to see everything freshly through other people’s eyes. Last month we took my little cousin to a park. We sat him on a swing for the first time. I watched in-between laughs as he felt his body moving up and down, up and down, very slowly. On every back swing he laughed and on every forward swing he smiled as his dad touched his cheek. He sat in it for minutes on end. Then he saw all the action in the sand and slides and wanted out. But quickly, he reached for the swings, smiling, moving back and forth. I enjoyed seeing him experience something so new, and love it. If that is how everything was, always something new, life would be ever changing.

Sometimes I wonder why I don’t have a different life. Why don’t I get to experience new things every day? Like, why am I here? Why aren’t I in a third-world country? Why aren’t I living on the streets, scrounging for food in the alley ways? Why was I chosen to be put here? I cannot understand. I feel like I’m fit for a more adventurous life sometimes. Yet I also think we are here for a reason. So, why aren’t I in some foreign country, speaking a different language, waltzing through their crowded streets? Why are we put where we are?

But, the other day I got an email from one of my friends. It was a forward, the crusty ones that tend to ask dumb questions. For example, the first question: What is your full name? Honestly, I thought. My friends know my full name. And then, yet another question: Do you like the person who sent this to you? Why do those forwards always ask that? If you don’t like the person who sent it to you, chances are, you didn’t open their emails. I was just about to close down the email, when I saw a question that caught my attention. Would you go skydiving? it read. I had to really think about it.

Finally, here is what I came up with. Would you go skydiving? No, probably not. I know I would love it, but my nerves couldn’t handle it. I am extremely afraid of heights. When I think about it, I am a writer, so I love seeing the world from different views. I wish I could go skydiving, but I know that in truth I’d be too scared. And then I realized that I knew myself. I knew my fears and what I could and couldn’t do. But I also knew my likes and wishes. Even though I don’t know why I am here, I know who I am. For me, that seems enough. I don’t feel the need to know my origin, and my purpose will arrive soon. Even if my purpose is to make a difference in one life, that is enough for me.

“Remember, wherever you go, there you are,” says Confucius. I think it is important that we know and understand who we are. No matter our situation; living in Africa on a barren landscape, or living here, in a warm house with a refrigerator filled with food. We need to understand our limits. We need to know every corner of our personality.

When I hear, “Why me, why not?” I also think…if. If I could…if I lived another life. It takes me to more words sung by Death Cab for Cutie, “If I could open my arms, and span the length of the isle of Manhattan, I’d bring it to where you are, making a lake of the East River and Hudson.” They say that if they could, they would bring Manhattan to someone. My grandma and mom used to tell me, “If you want the moon, honey, I’ll get it for you.” I don’t think we have to bring Manhattan or the moon to make someone happy, to brighten their lives. There are little things we can do. Maybe we are set down here, right here, just to bring someone joy, and to love others. Happiness can feel new every day, just like being little and learning about the huge world surrounding us. We should take in as much of it as possible, and love our life, because we only get one. We shouldn’t mull over why this, and why that, unless it might benefit someone else. I have to say though, sometimes it feels good to complain and pity yourself. Sometimes, we all have to do it, to get over our problems.

Our lives may not be perfect, but everyone goes through times that make our feelings sink, and thoughts whir. Everyone knows what it is like to lose someone, and feel crushed and hopeless. Honestly, our goal in life should just be to make someone happy, help someone, and love someone. Keep telling yourself you are enough, that love and hope is enough, and you’ll make it through.