My favourite season, the monsoon, started with such a splash, that I decided to take a few hours off each day just to watch the rains! I saw life renewing everywhere. And only nature has the capability to do that. Then again, I was spending some time with friends cum readers of The Sindhian a few days ago, and I was asked this one question which has been asked often times before too. "Are people in fact interested in reading a magazine that explores the constructive traits of individuals?" And: "Are you optimistic?" Will people continue to read a magazine that brings forth the encouraging side of a section of society? Do people want news about innovations within the community? Can a magazine that seeks out constructive traits among people rather than dwell on their dysfunctions make it in a world of skepticism and information overload? I told my friends that we have fared well so far. Further, time will tell. But signs indicate a tentative – more or less definitely - Yes! Going forward, our New York correspondent chanced upon Vikram Mansharamani, a Global Equity Investor & Yale Lecturer. He describes himself as a foreign affairs junkie with a passion to have an impact on the world; his story is an inspiring one. Los Angeles threw up Shaan Dasani, an actor, a filmmaker, and a man trapped in a woman’s body. We traced his steps to bring you his transformational journey and to raise some transgender awareness. Welcome to the brave new world! From Mumbai, comes Akhil Shahani, an educationist of a different sort - one who empowers students to be ready for the world out there, and not just educated for it. Read on to discover the stories of a cultural guru, a conservationist, a doctor who is also a musician, and several more who have dared to be themselves. If they don’t inspire some optimism, I don’t know what will!