Optimism

An annual survey released last week found that New Yorkers are a happy bunch. According to an annual survey on Livability conducted by the Municipal Art Society, 84% of New Yorkers said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their life in the city. Manhattanites are the most optimistic with a level of 88%, versus Staten Island at 67%. And 81% of New Yorkers are optimistic or very optimistic about the future of their city, an increase of 5% over last year.

I'm not sure how that plays out nationally. I'm guessing New Yorkers' upbeat outlook is substantially higher than say those who live in Detroit or Baton Rouge, mainly because the economy here has shown some potential for growth. But I think it does mirror how outsiders see Americans, as a tirelessly upbeat, happy, positive nation of people.

I have always been intrigued by this global perception. Is it true or is it a facade?  In Australia, we grew up with images of American corporate employees pumping the air with their fists in a joint show of success and solidarity, sportsmen high-fiving in the winners circle and a plethora of American self help books offering us suggestions on how to "be your personal best," "beat the blues" and "win friends and influence people".  Of course, America is also the home of the motivational speaker, the celebrity minister and positive affirmations. And I don't deride any of this, because like many others, I do believe that great things come to those who are optimistic and that negativity attracts more negativity.  But I also believe in the yin and yang theory; you can't only have one thing. For every positive, there is a negative, every up, a down.  So like with alot of generalizations, I did not believe Americans could always be "up" - until I lived here.

Coming from a country that is cynical of anything that smells vaguely of corporate brainwashing, it was really disconcerting to work in an environment where everyone really IS positive and optimistic all the time. The first thing the cynic thinks is "oh, this person is not sincere, they're nice to your face and back stab you afterwards". But trust me when I say that every American I have met or worked with - and they're not all from New York -  truly wants you to "have a nice day," makes sure "you are very welcome" and will go out of their way to help you. And they really believe tomorrow will be a great if not better day than today. I must admit it's been hard not to get swept up in this wave of ebullient enthusiasm for life. And in a funny way, I really like it! It makes you feel good about everything you are and do.

Of course, there are the disbelievers of all this "false" optimism. Barbara Ehrenreich is one such realist. She wrote a book called "Bright-Sided; How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America". Ehrenreich argues that Americans are a cheerful, optimistic, and upbeat people because this is their reputation as well as their self-image. However, more than being a temperament, this positivity is seen as the key to success and prosperity because they are relentlessly told that it is. She then goes on to knock this down with an urgent call for a new commitment to realism, because in her opinion, this irrational optimism has led to disaster. 

It's a fascinating read, particularly for a non-American like myself. And there are a lot of reasons to totally agree with Ehrenreich. If you are interested, there is an excellent review of her book here. But for me now in this moment, I will just remain content to live in such an optimistic city like New York.

image: following your bliss

A Call to Alms

I got back from my corporate bootcamp on Friday. The intense week made me aware of a lot of things both personally and professionally. One was how absence makes the vision grow more acute.  When you live in Manhattan, you grow accustomed to all the panhandlers because you live with them every day. But after spending five days in the peaceful green surrounds of a hallowed tertiary centre of learning, suddenly the picture back here is not so rosy.

Have you ever wondered, if you were suddenly out on the street with nothing, no friends, family, credit line or bed, how would you ask strangers for money? I have thought about this. Often. Have you ever considered the myriad of variations open to you? Do you simply ask? Sit with a sign? Sing and dance? Which one is the most effective? Or are they all dependent on the type of stranger you are asking? The time of day? The location? I'm sure most of these people don't apply such rigorous thinking to their actions to get food or shelter or a cigarette or even a drink. But from the giver's perspective, maybe we have to think about it and weigh up who we think needs our money the most or deserves it the most, because unless you are Gandhi, most people can't offer alms to every single person that asks them every single day. Or can we and should we? But believe me, in this city, there are alot.

Below is a typical selection of panhandlers you may encounter in Manhattan from the time you leave your apartment for work to when you return after dinner or a Broadway show. You decide who you would give your money to:

• Mother from what sounds and looks like Eastern Europe walking through the carriages of the subway train begging for money in broken english with child in tow. It's illegal by the way to ask for money on the subway
• Two guys on the subway with a tambourine and guitar singing Moon River completely out of tune - also illegal on the subway
•  Outgoing 50-something Caucasian male brazenly walking up to random people on the street asking for a dollar because he has an emergency he has to get back to in New Jersey - "I swear to God". When someone does give him a dollar - without even stopping as he gets the money out of his pocket - the panhandler asks, "Have you got another two or three?"
• Older black male sitting on the pavement outside Citarella, an expensive gourmet supermarket asking, "Can you spare some change today?"
• Young white girl sitting on a blanket in Union Square with a dog beside her and a cardboard sign reading, "I've lost my job, I'm pregnant and have no home. Please help."
• Thirty-something African male sitting on a large battered suitcase in midtown with a sign reading, "Please help me get a plane ticket home."
• Amputee in a wheelchair at the lights. When the traffic has stopped, he rolls past each car with his palm outstretched
• War Veteran sitting on the steps of the subway. His sign is simple. "Iraq Vet. Help."
• Group of break dancers doing an impressive routine to very loud and rousing music in the Times Square subway - legal assuming they have their permit
• Young guy with a sign reading, "I'm not going to lie. I need a beer. Please help."
• Fundraising drive by New York City Coalition Against Hunger at a street fair. Donations go to helping feed the estimated 1.5 million low income New Yorkers who do not have enough money for food. NYCCAH operates 1100 soup kitchens and food pantries throughout the five boroughs

This is a real day here that any New Yorker could share with you. And each person has a compelling story I'm sure. Mayor Bloomberg says the panhandling situation is "under control" and in fact better than it used to be. He argues there are less people asking for money in the subway. While that may be true, there are now more people asking at the entrances. So, which of these people are you going to help today? Or are you going to ignore or step over/ away from each one and let "someone else" help them out? Or will you send your money to an NGO like NYCCAH to make sure it is "spent wisely" and distributed "fairly"? This choice is all of ours. And it's a really difficult choice.

image: gothamist

Ladies Who Lunch

Duchess of Windsor and C.Z. Guest leaving La Cote Basque, NY 1962

Tony Palmieri, Conde Nast archive

I never 'do' lunch in Manhattan because I look after the international media, not the US media. But today I was invited to attend the New York Women in Communications Matrix 2012 Awards Luncheon. This organization is for female professionals in the NY metro area and its mission is to "empower women in all communications disciplines to reach their full potential". The Matrix Awards are held annually to honor women in all fields of communications whose outstanding contributions "change the world".

Now when I think of ladies who lunch in Manhattan, I think of C. Z. Guest, Babe Paley and Jackie O as they step out of the front doors of time-honored lunch spots such as Le Cote Basque, Le Cirque and La Grenouille, straight into the flashing bulbs of the then-famous social photographers. But the female power that was packed into the Waldorf Astoria ballroom today, was extraordinary. It was exhilarating, inspiring and exciting to be amongst some of the most notable women in communications today. Tyra Banks, Barbara Walters, Peggy Noonan and Katie Couric rubbed shoulders with Glenn Close, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Maria Cuomo Cole. Each woman was either being honored this year, a past recipient of the award or presenting the award to this year's nominee. Hearing these women and others speak, and learning about what they have achieved, made me suddenly realise the power of New York and the infinite possibilities it offers a woman if you have the drive and ambition.

Below are some of my "faves" from today and their remarkable achievements:

Maria Cuomo Cole: 
sister of Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York and daughter of a once governor of New York (the whole family was there today) has chaired HELP USA, the largest provider of services for the homeless, victims of domestic violence and war veterans, since 1992. She has produced several short films and public service announcements on the subject of domestic violence, gun violence and homelessness, was shortlisted for an Academy Award and had a premier at 2011 Sundance Festival. Her latest documentary, 'The Invisible War',  looks at sexual violence in the military.

Deputy Chief Theresa Shortell:
Only one of two women in the 40 top ranked NYPD officers, Deputy Chief Shortell is a tiny bundle of Bronx sass. Her resume reads like a NYPD TV program. She is currently the Commanding Officer of the Citywide Gang Division,  she has served on the Organized Crime Control Bureau, Special Victims Unit and the Narcotics Division to name a few. She became Glenn Close's mentor when Close was preparing for her role in the series, The Shield. When Close asked her what the hardest part of her job was, she replied, "Being a woman and not letting that get in the way."

Peggy Noonan:

Speechwriter for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Noonan is recognised as writing some of the most powerful American political speeches of the 20th century. For Reagan's address to the country after the space shuttle Challenger disaster, she wrote, "We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved good bye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God'.
Noonan has written loads of books, one about her time working with President Reagan called, "What I saw at the Revolution".  She is currently a columnist for the WSJ.

Tyra Banks:
Yes, I'm afraid she is leggy, buxom and beautiful in real life. And she has a personality and the smarts! Her show, "America's Next Top Model", is in its 19th season and is syndicated in over 100 countries. She won two Emmy's for her daily talk show "the Tyra Show", has more than 5 million followers on Twitter and more than 1 million facebook friends. She uses her power and reach to talk about body image empowerment and self esteem for young girls. Her own personal wake-up call; when the media slammed the size of her body in a swimsuit while shooting in Australia. She became every girl's pinup heroine when she walked onto her talk show in the same swimsuit and told all her critics to "Kiss my fat arse".

Katie Couric:

Veteran TV host and award winning journalist. She is also heavily supportive of various cancer groups. Her quips for the day; "I went into TV news at a time when many were trying to get the 'broads out of broadcasting", and, "Back then, 'harass' was a two-worded insult."

I walked away from this lunch realizing there is a very strong sorority amongst women across all fields and the opportunity to be inspired and guided by some extraordinary women. And as someone quoted today the words of Madeline Albright, "There is a special place in Hell for women who don't help other women."

images; vanity fair, zimbio, nywici, biography, makeup and beauty care, celebrity daily post

What Annoys New Yorkers

A survey came out this week on what annoys New Yorkers the most. According to that stellar city tabloid the New York Post, slow moving tourists and subway door blockers came out on top. Couldn't agree more! Here are their results with my comments:

The most annoying things in New York according to New Yorkers:

1. People who block subway doors. Too right. It was bad enough before the MTA declared a multi billion dollar deficit. Now, with even less trains, what is it with people who hover at the doors rather than moving all the way inside to let the other thousand people behind them in?
2. Slow walking tourists. My # 1 peeve. Don't they realize that New Yorkers have somewhere to go and we have to get there now? We don't have time to trip over ugly overpacked nylon wheelie bags or side step map readers who have incomprehensibly stopped in the middle of the pavement!
3. Cab drivers on cell phones. Mmm, this is a borderline one for me. I rather like to hear all the different languages these cabbie speak, even if they don't listen to the address you give them or stop when you ask them to. It makes you feel like you really are living in the Tower of Babel.
4. Drivers who block the box. I don't even understand what this means. Sounds like one of the languages the aforementioned cabbies speak.
5. Panhandlers. Disagree with this one. At least in this city they are extremely polite. They even ask God to bless you when you step right over them and keep on walking. 
6. Hipsters. I say if you don't like them, move back to Kansas
7. Bike delivery guy.  Annoying only because they seem incapable of understanding the road rules and ride the wrong way down a one way street. This has caused many a near fatal encounter with a New Yorker who only looks in the direction from which the traffic is supposed to be coming (as per #1: we don't have time to look both ways)
8. Film shoots that take over the street. I love these. On any given day, you can inadvertently find yourself as an extra in Law and Order or CSI: New York.
9. Street Fairs. Totally on board with this one. Every single weekend there is a street blocked off - usually in my 'hood - with the same tie-dyed, polyester sarong and fake-scented strawberry soap for sale
10. Tip jars everywhere. Hello. What's with giving a dollar to the barman for taking your drink order at the bar?

As a follow up to this survey, Gawker did a quick translation of the above results for those who don't live in NYC:

The most annoying things in New York according to New Yorkers:

1. New Yorkers
2. Non-New Yorkers
3. Cab drivers
4. Drivers
5. Poor people
6. Young people
7. Healthy people
8. People from LA
9. Happy people
10. People who are trying to make ends meet.

But as one Bronx resident so succinctly put it, " The things that annoy you about New York are usually the things that define New York."

Image: angel chevrestt