Hope

“The beginning is always today”

Mary Shelley

How do you see hope?

What does the word hope mean to you? How would it look if you had to draw it? To me it looks like a balloon. It is not the most eloquent image or environmentally friendly, but that is what I think of when I think of hope. You blow the balloon up before the birthday, or before the celebration even begins. That balloon is your belief that the party will be fun and beautiful.

What does the research say?

Research explains hope as the emotionally positive outlook and expectation about the future. I think that is a very boring way of describing a very powerful word. If we did not have hope, nothing would ever be worth doing.

It is a Pooh thing.

I like the way Winnie the Pooh explains it. That inexplicable feeling in the pit of your stomach, not quite excitement, not quite anticipation, something more prevailing – hope.

‘What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?’ ‘Well,’ said Pooh, ‘what I like best –‘and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to (eat) it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. (Milne, 2007, The House at Pooh Corner. pp. 168–169)

What does hope look like?

No one starts a healthy eating plan, because they have a sudden urge to experience life as a hamster. If that were the case, they could continue eating doughnuts and sweets and simply sleep on shredded newspaper and run on a wheel. No!  A person starts a healthy eating plan with the ambition that it will lead to a healthier lifestyle. It is that positive expectation of the future that helps them to say no to zoo biscuits with their coffee. Do you know how hard it is to say no to those colourful delectable treats? Hope is a powerful strength.

The CORONA VIRUS

As adults we can often be guilty of neglecting hope, but even worse, killing the feeling in others. This Corona virus epidemic has been such a sad example of this. The media has been promoting fear to increase ratings. Using sensational headings and terrifying statistics. There are people who have taken pleasure in sending out messages that promote fear, even going so far as to make up fake news. What does this do to the person receiving all this information? Yes it frightens them, but what it is really doing is slowly diminishing their hope.

How dare we as human beings rob each other of such a powerful force as hope? Without hope there is no point in being in quarantine, without hope there is no point is practicing good hygiene, because without hope this virus will destroy us all and there will be nothing left. Is this a future you want for yourself or your family? Of course not. So do not be one of those people who disseminates this fear onto other people.

share what is useful

Share information about how to protect yourself from the virus. That encourages hope. Share the stories of survivors. Join prayer groups and encourage others to do the same. Reach out to someone who is suffering. Your support in whatever shape it takes will bolster their feelings about the future. Is that not the most power you have ever had in your hands? Forget money or promotions, the ability to spread hope, now that is being a real influencer. Best part, the more you campaign for hope, the more hopeful you will become too. Try it. See where this strength takes you. I bet it will be the best trip you have ever been on and you do not have to set foot outside your house.

final thought

While others are getting their neighbours arrested, I trust that you will be embracing hope, in your home, but also sharing it with others.

Chat to you tomorrow, but for now, I HOPE my husband is making another batch of coffee and I think I will be saying no after all to those irresistible zoo biscuits.

TTFN

P.S. Check out the original picture at https://www.facebook.com/deefgphotography/