Alison Zamora

And that’s what Attempts at Optimism is all about. Not toxic positivity, but approaching life’s plot twists with curiosity, compassion, and a stubborn kind of hope.

This isn’t about going everywhere or doing it all. It’s not about checking boxes or chasing TikTok trends. It’s about uncovering what’s meaningful—those special places that are well-designed, deeply local, often unexpected, and sometimes a little hard to describe. It could cost fifty cents or five hundred dollars. It’s the kind of thing you’d want... See more

My philosophy has always been: If it’s not great, it’s not worth it.

In the wreckage of so much loss, I began to look at things differently. What if I treated hope as a daily effort—an attempt , not a destination?

What if, despite my brain’s wiring, I started practising optimism on purpose?

Notice the stages: inspiration, doubt, frustration, flow, fatigue, renewal. Staying present through the discomfort is a creative practice in itself.

To create in a world that values control, efficiency, and output is radical. Creative acts reclaim autonomy and voice

Our nervous systems must feel safe to play, imagine, and explore. Trauma, stress, or even chronic busyness can put the body into survival mode, shutting down the imaginative mind.

Therapy often reminds us that our lives are works of art in progress full of improvisation, adaptation, and growth.