![\"Ringo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ringo-Starr-2011-Musician-The-Beatles-Far-Out-Magazine-1140x855.jpg\")
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(Credits: Far Out \/ Alamy)<\/p>\n
Mon 2 June 2025 16:39, UK <\/p>\n
Ringo Starr<\/a> has opened up about the origins of the peace mantra that has become central to his persona across his career, noting: \u201cI\u2019m an optimist, not a pessimist.\u201d<\/p>\n In a wide-ranging interview with the Associated Press published on June 1st, the former Beatle reflected on a number of facets within his musical tenure, not least his time as part of the Fab Four.<\/p>\n But as he is set to mark his 85th birthday on July 7th, Starr also explained the meaning behind his \u201cpeace and love\u201d life motto, dispelling the famous misconception that it was born out of the band\u2019s trip to India<\/a> in 1968.<\/p>\n \u201cIt actually came, for me, from San Francisco, where the hippies were,\u201d the drummer explained. \u201cThey were, of course, great peace and lovers, and then it changed. But I found a picture the other day of the four of us [giving the peace sign] \u2013 I didn\u2019t invent it, I just picked it up. John [Lennon] was a big proponent of peace and love, and it just came to me.\u201d<\/p>\n However, spirituality is still evidently at the epicentre of all that Starr practices in life, as he revealed that he has \u201cmeditated every day since 1992.\u201d In turn, he hopes that by continuing to spread the message of the mantra, it can also help others.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s important every day \u2013 and right now the world is going through a madness. Maybe it\u2019ll help,\u201d he added, returning to this idea later in the interview as he noted: \u201cI\u2019m an optimist, not a pessimist.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI just feel positive,\u201d he explained, \u201cNot every day, and not all my life, but some of those things I knew I needed from what I was 13, [when I was] really ill in hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n