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I faced quite a few challenging times, and in front of those, I was more positive than some people not facing those conditions. I'm actually of the belief now that it is that struggle that offers you that open-hearted hope.

I've been blessed with an optimistic disposition, I think.

I think optimism springs from nature. I'm a gardener. Nature has taught me about rhythm, the essence of every art. With so much that is terrible, nature gives me pleasure.

So many people grew up with challenges, as I did. There weren't always happy things happening to me or around me. But when you look at the core of goodness within yourself - at the optimism and hope - you realize it comes from the environment you grew up in.

In my forties, my optimism was boundless. I had really good health and tremendous success which allowed me to do anything I wanted.

My optimism has helped me through some hard times. If you try to send out good things, good things come back to you.

My faith helped me stay grounded in defeat and victory, to not get too excited about the successes and too low about the failures.

I'm one of the most optimistic persons in the world. I always believed that - there's another shot, another chance. In boxing, I never gave up. I kept trying, kept trying. Even when things seemed so dim, I continued to push forward to make something happen in my favor.

I hope the millions of people I've touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude.

I guess what I learned the most was to feel lucky with what I have been able to accomplish and what I have and to feel humble about the people I have been able to work with.