20 Reasons I Have Hope Today
“Hope is faith with a track record.” - Anne Lamott
Some days life feels heavy. Politics, crime, grief, and disrespect for one another can bear down on us and make us feel like it’s all too much. It can feel like nothing we do will bring about change in the world. We start to worry about what life will be like for our kids or grandkids, the next year or even tomorrow.
Instead of worrying, which only robs us of today’s peace, we can be intentional. According to Anne Lamott, hope is faith with a track record. Hope involves noticing people, events and ideas we have seen produce positive results in the past. I spent the last few days noticing. It was enjoyable to hunt for the positives. It also helped me block out some of the negatives, allowing me to stay in my strived-after Zen state of mind.
Here are my 20 reasons to feel hopeful today:
a man paying for a woman’s convenience store purchase when her debit card was declined
a friend walking down the aisle, knowing she’s marrying her soulmate
the feeling of cool, refreshing fall days
neighbors who help with my fashion emergencies
listening to the dogs snore as I journal in bed with a cup of coffee
people who love novels and poems as much as I do
friends who make you laugh during your lunch break
two sisters reminiscing about their mom’s life before she had dementia
laughing babies
people feeling comfortable and safe enough to get support for their mental health needs
the new trend of using retro school supplies
all the mentors helping me on my writing journey
clerks who smile when you go through their checkout line
young friends who want to spend time with older people like me
empty calendar pages
teachers who go out of their way to make sure children feel loved for exactly who they are
a friend tackling her breast cancer with courage and dignity
para athletes who have overcome challenges that may have stopped the rest of us in our tracks
my co-workers who show up every day with calmness and wisdom for the patients we serve
people who take the time to read my Substack posts
What brings you hope today?
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