Hope

I love author/activist Rebecca Solnit's recent take on the power of hope.

"To be hopeful means to be uncertain about the future, to be tender toward possibilities, to be dedicated to change all the way down to the bottom of your heart. 

There are really only two questions for activists: What do you want to achieve? And who do you want to be? And those two questions are deeply entwined. Every minute of every hour of every day you are making the world, just as you are making yourself, and you might as well do it with generosity and kindness and style. 

That is the small ongoing victory on which great victories can be built, and you do want victories, don’t you? Make sure you’re clear on the answer to that, and think about what they would look like." 

Living simply gives me hope. Without the need to rush, and freed from materialistic concerns, I can concentrate on building the life I want. These are my small, ongoing victories.

I take these successes and use them to broaden my scope and consider what my ideal world would look like.

What I envision in these moments is a world of generosity, kindness, and beauty. I envision peace, tranquility, and a lively, enthusiastic global community. While I am planning my ideal world I also like to throw in freedom for all, and the fulfillment of everyone's basic needs. I have no doubt it can be done.

Let's celebrate our small, ongoing victories, then work together on creating the hope and high spirits that will be required to achieve the great triumphs that are changing our world.