The Ant

Optimistic opportunities can sneak up on you in different ways. One day while working on a cruise ship that was sailing from Florida to Los Angeles through the Panama Canal I went to the restroom. When I looked down, I noticed an ant on the ground. One, single, lonely black ant. I became curious. How did he find himself here? Was he confused? Did he make a wrong turn? As I left the bathroom and said goodbye to my new friend, I ran into the crooner on board. I told him of my discovery and we began a discussion that ended up carrying on for almost a year as we ran back into each other.

He asked if I killed the ant and I said, "How could I? What if he's on vacation? What if he's visiting someone? What if he has sick relatives somewhere in central america and this was his only way to get there?"

We laughed a lot, and this man was not someone who would normally joke much. We came up with stories and back-stories and theories about other creatures that would or could somehow hitch a ride on an expensive ocean liner. The topic then came up at a dinner within a week and several of us discussed the life of this single, solitary little creature.

When you are willing to look beyond what is, you will often find something better than reality. It may not be important, it may not change your life. But I can tell you that my willingness to be weird and creative spurred the same in many others. That I trusted these people to run with it instead of looking at me like I needed therapy, I believe, is being optimistic!