Finding Optimism in Unexpected Places: Patrick's Journey

Tell us a little about yourself: who you are, where you're from, what you do for work, and what you do for fun.

My name is Patrick Ruebensaal, and I live in Wadsworth, Ohio. I'm a high school teacher and a big music fan. I was in eighth grade when I went to my first rock concert, and I was hooked. I might have more concert shirts than Life is Good shirts, but it's a close battle.

Your original message referenced the Life is Good "Half Full" shirt you saw hanging in a store window and how it became a turning point. Can you tell us why that message resonated with you at that moment?

I was depressed and in a very dark place. I wondered if my family would be better off without me. I felt like a failure, and I was struggling.

I saw your "Half Full" shirt in a Life is Good store window while on vacation in Key West. We must have walked past the place 100 times, but at that moment, I saw it and thought, "What if, instead of looking at what could go wrong, this is telling me that I need to look at what can go right."

Your t-shirt flipped my thinking.

I bought it before I left and have worn it since 2011. Whenever I feel down, I put it on (or buy one for someone else).

What advice would you give someone facing similar struggles and stuck in life? What's the best way to shift your mindset and move more positively?

My best advice is to look at what went right, not wrong, at the end of every day.

It can be as simple as "I put on clean clothes today." Or "I made my bed." No matter how tiny it is, celebrate each victory and a different victory each day.

You can't measure your success against others. It's a losing battle. You have to look at yourself and ask, "Am I better today than I was yesterday?" And if the answer is no, you can get up and say, "I'm going to make it a great day. My day is going to be half full."

That's excellent advice. It's essential to stay focused on what is in your control and express gratitude for what is going right in your life.

I can still remember when I was in a horrible place. But no matter how bad things have been, I kept looking for the positive. And eventually, I found it.

I was able to fix all my finances. I went from someone in their first year of teaching and would lose my house because I didn't make enough to support everything. But I kept a positive mindset; I knew things would get better. And I was finally rewarded. And the whole time, I was wearing Life is Good. It puts all the thoughts I have into something very simple.

It’s interesting how something so simple, like a phrase on a shirt, or a shift in your mindset, can have a powerful impact on your life. But then, seeing how you've put that into practice and how it's turned your life around is inspiring.

I also love how you give each student a Life is a Good keychain at the end of the year, along with a personal note. When you show compassion towards someone, they're more likely to show that care and compassion towards others and themselves. So, you're having a ripple effect, not just on your students, but on everyone they meet.

I want them to take away that life is good if nothing else. And to be thankful for where you're at now and where you're going.

Whatever you're facing, nothing is impossible. You can always find a solution and keep moving forward. And I wish when I was younger, people had told me that.

I've taken all those little life lessons and tied them together with my belief in the Life is Good mission and sharing it with the kids. I try to let them know there is a way to be positive and that not everything in the world is so negative. Everybody wants to argue their points, but there's room for everybody. Just treat people with positivity. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, consider what you do have.

What tools do you have in your toolbox to move through the day?

It's the joy of sharing this message with people I care about and lifting them. The world has so much negativity, and it's easy to fall into that trap. If you can think of that one thing that reminds you to keep moving forward and positive, then I'm all about that 100%.

If nothing else, I hope these kids just learned to be good and treat people well. That's all I can hope for. Anything else is a bonus.