The relentless news cycle will try to tell you differently - but you have to agree with me that you felt it too, right? If only for a fleeting moment, it almost felt like we touched upon some hope recently.
Like you, I have stared down the barrel of hateful rhetoric and actions - and I have been fearful. The vitriol and violent spewing is shocking, damaging and dangerous. It builds an inflated sense of strength and gives an empty power that people seem to clamor for. Hope at first glance may sound trite, naive and tender in the wake of all of this. But tempered hope, even at the darkest moments, is in fact essential.
Hope is not the wildfire of hate. It may take longer to catch and it burns more slowly. But it warms versus scorches, it nourishes versus numbs. Hope may not give the potent, easy hit of dopamine but it is like a multivitamin that makes us stronger every day.
Hope does not lie and it does not make false promises of impossible absolutes. It builds our strength so when shit goes wrong (as happens in life) we are able to withstand it. It keeps us from getting burned out and gives us the bandwidth to endure.
Being hopeful takes determination amongst all odds. It is the butterfly you see flying in Manhattan, the flower resolutely growing through a crack in the cement and the sunlit days slowly getting longer. Hope is the stubborn humor, the heartfelt song and the silly dance. It is diligently cleaning up the kitchen at night, knowing full well of the drama, spills and crumbs the space will hold in the morning.
In times like this, we must grab hope in whatever form. It could be the muffins the neighbor dropped off, the special breakfast of waffles you made for your kids or the cup of tea enjoyed while staring out the window at the falling snow. These simple moments restore us and help to get us ready for whatever may come next.
Our next Virtual Gathering’s Theme is: Hope
When: Thursday, February 25th, 8:00PM ET / 5:00PM PT
How: Sign up here
What: Please join our call with a favorite food or beverage that connects to the theme (and if you don't have time to cook just come with a story!)
Cost: $15