Never Give Up

 

Hold on to Hope

“Hope is important because it can make the present less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

          I’m reading a lot of doomsday stuff on the internet these days. It makes me sad. I am not oblivious to the difficulties of the day—pandemic, high prices, inflation, a dysfunctional congress—but it doesn’t help to have everybody predicting the imminent fall of democracy. I believe, and have seen it happen in my own life, that we call to us what we believe. If I am a fearful person, I will call to me all sorts of situations and circumstances that make me afraid. If I am a hopeful person, I will manifest situations and circumstances that give me hope. I do have hope—we’re going through a rough time right now, but everything comes in cycles, and we will see brighter days ahead.

          When I am in the doldrums, it helps me to read something hopeful. A Facebook friend recommended Jane Goodall’s book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times. I look forward to reading it. I’m having knee replacement surgery today, so I will have lots of laid-up time to read in the coming weeks.

          Another thing that gives me hope is the way that friends have come forward with offers of help, even inviting me to stay with them while I recover. I am always humbled by that—and humility is in short supply these days. Being waylaid by surgery, stumbling around in a painkiller haze is not conducive to pride, to say the least. I have a feeling this will be a true learning experience—learning to let go.

Americans are generous people at heart. We just have to remember who we are and what we want for our children. Don’t give up on hope. Do something hopeful today—be kind to one another, give someone an unexpected gift, call your mom if you’re still lucky enough to have one on the planet. Just be a good person. That’s all that’s required.

                                                  In the Spirit,

                                                  Jane