I am Buddhist and there is a meditation that helps me: You elect to feel hopelessness or lovelessness as a way of empathizing with others who feel these things. (For the record, I hope salmon make it.) - Andrew Murphy, Crescent City, Calif. It seems less critical to save them (and every other species) knowing that all species will one day share the same fate. With that perspective, it puts me more at peace that, for example, salmon may go extinct in my lifetime. This may sound cynical but I am being earnest: What gives me peace of mind when gloom is looming is to remember that in 5 billion years, the sun will become a red giant and Earth will cease to exist. The fact that things were different once means that society need not work as it does now, which I think is quite the empowering thought. On the other hand, we see dramatic change over time and across cultures regarding everything from the role of women to which professions hold prestige to how life should be lived to how people dress. There has been so much oppression in so many ways since more or less the dawn of agriculture. I majored in history, which can be a rather depressing subject. Godoy (Pleaded guilty to his role as a lookout and serving a prison sentence at Roxbury Correctional Institution for murder) I live today with a renewed optimism and faith, believing and striving towards a brighter tomorrow. It is better to help than to point fingers it is better to encourage than to find fault. I have learned that humility is an inward action manifested outwardly for the benefit of others. My mother has taught me that humility in servitude of others, can be a soothing balm to a hurting heart. It is this powerful human emotion which allows me to see in the darkest hour. Her unwavering faith in God, her unbroken resilience and fighting spirit to see me prison-free, strengthens my heart. What keeps me motivated with optimism is the genuine love from my mother, Diana. At times, it seems impossible to overcome these emotional barriers. The longer you spend in prison, the less hopeful and optimistic you become. I have spent over 25 years in prison, more than half my life. Kathy Swanson, Clifton, Texas Think big thoughts Oh, I can get as negative and as angry as the next person, but I try not to stay there long. I try to be observant of God's workings in my life and to be aware of His many blessing. It's little things that cause that inward smile, like the cloud that swirls up from cream being poured into a hot cup of coffee. it makes my day.' I guess I was smiling without even realizing it and had no idea how simple smiles can affect other people for the better. One of the cashiers (whom I didn't know from Eve) let out a loud 'Welcome back!' and added, 'I love how every time you come in our store, you're smiling. But several years ago, I walked into a hardware store that I hadn't been to in a long time. I feel like I'm in a chronic state of despair over the various bad situations all over the planet, with my personal struggles on top of them. Haven't you ever glanced across a room, caught someone's eye and shared a smile with a total stranger over a funny incident? It's understanding the human condition. It connects us to our loved ones but even brings us closer to strangers. I don't think I could live in this world without humor. Either way, we as humans tend to know when we need to break the tension and give ourselves a mental reset. It could be as simple as silly viral animal videos or the more complex comedy that contextualizes our lives in the broader arc of history. No matter how hard life can get, there are always people who find a way to make things feel lighter. Humor continues to be one of the things that gives me hope. Stay optimistic! Here's a selection of the themes and thoughts and thank you to everybody who wrote in. We asked our readers to share their optimistic strategies and they really, really did - nearly 100 wonderful responses. A few weeks ago, we published the thoughts of a few global advocates and activists on how they find the hope when things seem hopeless.

Keep it a secret from your mother