In the weeks and months following November 8, 2016, I came to the conclusion there was something more that had to be done about the trajectory of our country and its people than just complaining (read: ranting and raving) on social media. I know a lot of others came to this conclusion as well, and many of them left social media channels altogether.

I decided to cut back on how often I visited some of the more stress-inducing channels (I’m looking at you, Twitter!), and that a regular dose of uplifting thoughts and images might be beneficial not only to my own sanity, but for others as well. The phrase “practice militant optimism” was born.

I was determined not only to avoid the constant negativity that is rampant on our national media channels (and local as well), but to try to provide an alternative. And to help others create a practice of seeking out the positive, the good, the uplifting, in their own lives.

I was posting these images and thoughts on Instagram, but I have decided I should be putting them here as well. I am in the process of some kind of rebranding/rebirth/repurposing here, and this seems to be part of it. I’ll share a Militant Optimism post once a week here, at least until I figure out what it’s going to become. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.