There are times when being Nova Scotian can be frustrating, and then there are days when I can hardly contain my excitement. Fortunately, today is one of the exciting days. After two weeks of facilitating consultations on the provincial parks system, I'm reminded this province is full of potential. Not only are we lousy with natural beauty, but we're surrounded by brilliant minds.
In touring the province, I connected with people who can see the future. These were people who visit the outdoors regularly, hike the trails, swim at the beaches and take their kids out to explore nature. They recognize the healthy benefits of peace, connection with trees and general exploration. And they are passionate about this Ocean Playground we all share. The outpouring of ideas and optimism was refreshing and full of promise.
There were pessimists too....and many of them....and they were vocal and spoke in lengthy tirades. There was the sense these people were beaten down from a lifetime of disappointment. They might have been optimistic and cheerful too at some stage, but mediocrity and not quite getting what they wanted may have turned their ambitions sour. This pessimism is rampant in Nova Scotia, and might just be getting in the way of success. Their glasses are half empty, and the challenge is to change how the glass is framed to fill it half way instead. Negative thinking can be frustrating to the optimists, but it's part of who we are as a province. My only hope is to do my part to switch the focus.
But today I met with two young brilliant young women with fabulous education, positive attitudes and fresh ideas. They are having trouble connecting with meaningful work, yet they offer boundless workforce potential. The chance to brainstorm about their experiences and how to position themselves in the market was truly exciting. There was so much opportunity, and I would hire them myself given the chance. I can only hope they will connect with employers who feel the same way.
I adore this province and I intend to be here for the rest of my days. As an entrepreneur, this seems a great place to succeed, working with people I actually like, and having fun while I do it. I'm optimistic, and I raise my half full glass to the other optimists. Let's do our bit to spread the word and fill more glasses as we go.
