Some people are born with a cheerful personality; with faces that bear smiles even when they are not trying. Most of them are optimists: people who always look at the bright side of things, even when they have good reasons not to, and who view the glass as half-full rather than half-empty. Optimists smile because they are thankful for what they have, and know that being sad won’t change anything.

One great example of an optimist is the lovely Sunny Hilden, who is a wonderful songwriter and creates music that is uplifting and filled with hope. I can honestly say that she is one of the most optimistic people that I know, and while she has great talent, I admire her most for her positive attitude. She has a personality that matches her name. When she recently had a bad day, she chose to learn a lesson from that experience, and wrote a positive song about it.

We could all take a page out of Sunny’s book here, by picking out the positive in every situation that we are in. Dwelling on the negative doesn’t help. Instead, it takes a toll on us — not just on our mental health, but physically, and spiritually too. A good attitude, paired with a determination to do better the next time, works much better.

Optimism makes us happier. We tend to be more productive when we’re happy, which in turn makes us feel good about ourselves. It’s a never-ending cycle. Optimism is a valuable trait, and for those who aren’t born with this outlook, you could start now. Come up with a list of things that you are thankful for, and the next time you don’t get what you want, try to see the silver lining. As Alexander Graham Bell said: “When one door closes, another opens.”

A/N: Thank you, Sunny, for allowing me to use her name! She's an awesome, and beautiful lady.