The Power of Positive People


Petite, positive and one of my favorite cover girls: Patti with Dee Koch.

By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher

Positive people are game-changers.  They absolutely rock my world, and I strive on the daily to emulate that power of positivity that seems so effortless to so many.  Now, I don’t always achieve said goal, but a girl’s got to try because frowning gives you wrinkles and ain’t nobody got time for that.

I think that’s why positive people affect me so deeply because I truly make a concerted, conscious effort to be positive. And sometimes, it takes me a minute as I begin to sink in the quagmire of noxious negativity. That certainly was the case this week as I faced some challenges that I knew were looming large and dreaded tackling. It would have been so easy for me to wallow in quicksand up to my neck and spew negative all week long. But that didn’t happen. I forged ahead with grace and glory, and in hindsight, I can’t take credit for it at all. The credit goes to the positive people, many of whom did not even know the rocky road I was on this week, and I’m not talking ice cream, who showed up to support.

My dear, positive friend Alisa Murray calls these instances of when things happen completely out of the blue when you need them most – whether you realize it or not – Godwinks.  I couldn’t agree more.  I believe in divine intervention and the power of faith.  There have been far too many days in my 56 years when faith has been the one thing that has insisted I remain optimistic forging ahead with grit and grace.  And faith is kind of like your momma; you just don’t mess with it.

My stress-filled workdays this week were less so because of my absolutely focus media family.  I am blessed with the most positive team, and I cherish them.  The power of my positive work fam makes me better.

My nights of aches and pains due to the heavy lifting of the week were less so because of Mr. Kaminski.  Now he’ll put up with my pity party for a hot second, but then begins the laundry list of how amazing he believes I am.  Yes, I have him fooled.  Don’t tell him.  His positive belief in me makes me better.

The days when I couldn’t possibly go any longer or face the thought of even eating, and Mr. Kaminski came home with food.  And the best surprise ever from my girl Claire – a bottle of wine.  It was medicinal, of course, very necessary.  Her positive concern for my sanity makes me better.

The rare opportunity to take a moment and experience a real treat:  time with one of my most positive and cherished friends who has moved a continent away.  Now I could have stayed home and bellyached about my trials and tribulations, and I would have missed the greatest joy-filled evening of my week.  Dee is the kind of friend that you can not talk to for a year and pick up exactly where you left off – the kind of friend when you see her you just want to squeal with joy and talk for hours on end to catch up on every little thing.  Seeing my friend’s sweet face, catching up, making plans for the future, just sharing moments filled with so much positivity and love makes me better.

And, of course, there was the pirate who kidnapped, Keri, Elsa and I and took us on a grand seafaring adventure in the moonlight unbeknownst to everyone else.  Sure, we were MIA for a while, but we had provisions.  An impromptu adventure sharing time with sweet friends and our dear Captain Pete makes me better.

Positivity is indeed a powerful force.  Embrace it, and value those who emulate it above all else.  And may the force be with you.

See y’all next week – on the porch!


Patti Parish-Kaminski

Follow Patti Parish-Kaminski on Facebook at facebook.com/patti.parishkaminski and on Instagram at instagram.com/ontheporchwithpatti/.