April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring?

Pilgrims!

A classic joke for sure, but also an apt analogy: We have to endure stormy weather before we can have the sun shine and blossoms bloom. Looking on the bright side during a torrential downpour can be difficult, especially while juggling life’s responsibilities as a Prime driver and as a dad. That’s where optimal optimism comes in: the ability to look on the bright side while being realistic.

Are you more of an optimist or a pessimist? How can having an optimistic outlook on life help with stress management? Do difficult experiences really build character?

We’ve all heard the metaphor related to optimism about the glass being half full or half empty. For Prime driver Roy Romo, or “everyone’s favorite Uncle Roy,” his glass is bubbling over. Roy has 15 years of driving experience, and at 68 years old, he and his co-driver and wife of 10 years, Renee, say they’re nowhere near stopping.

Roy doesn’t have children of his own, but as a skilled Prime driver, father-figure and uncle, he is a wealth of insights applicable for both father and father-figure Prime drivers. Roy also has dad jokes aplenty (it’s one of the many ways he forms bonds with fellow drivers), so get ready to laugh out loud at this week’s blog all about the power of optimism!

Being optimistic sets a good example for others, including the youngsters in your life

Roy’s loved ones, including nieces and nephews, accept and love him for his colorful past.

“They know that Uncle Roy was wild, living in Reno for years doing body and paint work out of an RV. I was wild. They all knew that.”

During the late 1990s, Roy was homeless and struggling with addiction. He knew he needed a job and to get clean. By 1998, Roy started working for a nursing home.

“I know my way around a kitchen,” he said. “They needed help with older folks badly. They put me to work the next day!”

Roy admitted that being surrounded by older people that had or still struggled with addiction put things into perspective. He said he witnessed the effects addiction has on the body over time.

“The shape that some of these older folks were in!” he said. “I had to wheelchair them down to the patio to smoke. They smoked as much as they could for a half hour. Some of them had oxygen to their noses.

“It opened my eyes,” he continued. “I was able to get off drugs and quit smoking. I’ve been clean and sober now for 24 years.”

Roy said he’s made it his life goal to be addicted to sobriety. Both the decision and process to stay sober isn’t easy, but Roy stressed how important it is for both him and the people in his life whom he cares about.

“I’m a changed person,” he said. “I look, sound and feel healthier. My nephews and nieces see this, and they say, ‘Uncle Roy, I can tell.’”

Roy is the oldest of five siblings. He lost one brother to alcoholism, another motivation for him to remain sober. His other brother, Richard, has called Roy a blessing in his life. Roy said he wants to continue to “set a good example, like an older brother should.”

Being optimistic leads to long-lasting, strong relationships

Roy has been working for Prime for 15 years, which is no small feat. Before joining Prime, Roy was recovering from a bad relationship and had around $25,000 in debt. As a last-ditch effort, Roy obtained his CDL in Tennessee and sent career inquiry emails to trucking companies. He got a call from a recruiter at Prime, asking him to join the team, and the rest is history. During wintery weather and frigid temperatures in the middle of February, Prime put him on a Greyhound bus straight to Springfield.

Roy began working under fleet manager Steven Wray, a colleague he continues to be grateful for, describing their relationship as “peanut butter and jelly.”

“We hit it off, I drove for him and trained under him,” he said. “By the end of two years, I was ready to go lease.”

While being a part of Prime, Roy started his own trucking company and became an instructor. He had found a new home with Prime, continuing to save money and pay the bills. When he had enough saved, he bought his mother a car. Around three years into this new career, he reconnected with his former high school sweetheart, Renee, on Facebook. Residing in the Tacoma, WA, area, the two have been driving with each other ever since.

“She’s the first girl I ever kissed, and she’ll be the last girl I ever kiss, too,” he said.

Roy continues to form and strengthen bonds with fellow Prime drivers. Having an optimistic attitude and forming these bonds led him to participate in several Truck Driving Championships, leading to several victories and trips to national tournaments.

Roy has struggled with a lot of different obstacles throughout life but being able to look on the bright side and continue trying his best, despite defeat, has allowed him to be in his current position.

Being optimistic all the time can be hard: Find reasons to enjoy life by doing what you love

Roy said that one of his favorite ways to manage stress or tense situations is to tell dad jokes. One of his favorites:

What would you name a white horse?

Mayo, ’cause Mayo neighs!

Telling jokes is just one of the many ways Roy deals with stress. Driving is another one, which is why he enjoys his job so much.

“I love driving,” he said. “Going down the road, calm as I can be, my wife’s in the back sleeping. She’ll pop her head out, get herself ready, she’ll take over, and she drives through the night. We have a good system going; we work very well together.”

Roy also mentioned some of his favorite activities: bike-riding, fishing, and spending time with his wife, Renee, whether it be watching a movie or visiting a casino with an all-you-can-eat prime rib and lobster buffet.

“I’m enjoying life with my wife and having the most pleasure I’ve had in a long time,” he said. “That to me means more than anything: Spending time with my very best friend.”

Having the right mindset can go a long way.

Roy stressed the importance of “walking the walk,” having your actions match your words, and keeping a positive mindset.

“Goodness, kindness, happiness,” he said. “That’s a much better feeling than being sarcastic, mean and unhappy. A good friend of mine once told me in order to experience happiness, you have to go through harshness and unhappiness and do the things you’re not happy about doing. It makes the award of being happy that much better.

“I know what it’s like to be homeless,” he continued, “to go through hard times. I feel self-worth, it feels wonderful and I thank the Lord every day that He opened my eyes.”

Smile whenever possible, and don’t be afraid to show emotion

“Have a happy step in your walk,” Roy said. “If you’re happy, people tend to see that. That is something that’s rewarding.”

While working in a nursing home, Roy said it was a job of the heart.

“I didn’t make a lot of money,” he admitted. “(But) it was rewarding, taking care of the old folks, and I enjoyed that.”

However, the job was far from easy. Roy admitted that one of the hardest aspects of working there was when people passed away—people he had known and formed a connection with while working there.

“I sat next to a lot of my patients when they took their last breath,” he said. “I would say, ‘Lord, this one’s yours now.’ The hardest part was facing the families. Most of them knew me and saw me around, but they didn’t know me personally. When it came to giving condolences, I had a hard time.”

Being a man of faith, Roy would pray. While praying, he heard God tell him to give the people grieving a hug.

“I’d give a family member a hug, and all of the emotions rushed right out of me right into them. Old folks I took care of, giving hugs was beneficial to their spirit, to my spirit. That kind of reward to it, and you could see it, when someone puts their hand on you and gives you a hug.”

To this day, Roy hugs people he cares about.

“I don’t go around hugging everybody, but when I see friends, I give them a hug.”

Being optimistic isn’t always easy, especially when enduring feelings of grief and sadness. The smallest gestures, such as a smile and a hug to show you care, can go a long way.

Final Words

At Roy’s home base Shelton, WA, he’s living what he calls in the best years of his life. Not giving up and remaining optimistic (even during tough times) and helping others has allowed Roy to have a cup that’s bubbling over.

With this prosperity, Roy’s paying it forward by practicing generosity—another great way to put optimism into the world.

“We help support our families, nieces and nephews,” he said. “We have family throughout the country, and we take people out to meals. When kids graduate from high school, Uncle Roy and Aunt Renee are there, and we give them money for graduating. I’ve helped them get cars, pay rent and put meals on the table. We help our family out.”

Roy says that there’s nothing stopping him and his wife from retiring, but they’re both healthy and enjoying the open road, so for the time being, they’re going to keep on trucking.

“This more than anything, this is what keeps me optimistic. The best part of my life is right here, right now.”

Roy’s Best Dad Jokes

Q: What’s the difference between bird flu and swine flu?

A: Bird flu requires tweetment; swine flu requires oinkment.

Q: Did you hear about the guy who lost his left arm?

A: He’s all right now!

Q: If there’s a bee in my hand, what’s in my eye?

A: Beauty, because beauty is in the eye of the bee-holder!

Q: I had to break up with my cross eyed girlfriend

A: We couldn’t see eye-to-eye, and then she was seeing someone on the side!

Q: What do you call a dog with no legs?

A: It doesn’t matter, he’s not coming…