Hope…

I’ve been looking for reasons to hold on to hope.  When I look for beauty, I find beauty.  I’m trying to do the same thing with hope. I’m worried though that the light of hope is going to go out on Tuesday, Nov. 6th around 9pm, like it did in 2016.  I don’t know if I can handle that degree of loss again.  

I’m trying to have a warrior attitude and to do what I CAN do to help the results be how I want them to be, rather than sitting around wasting my time worrying.  Worrying never helps.  I try to practice mindfulness, but sometimes instead of experiencing calm, I  just observe my worried mind.  

I’m doing what I can.  Trying to find the balance of rest/distraction/meditation/baths/herbal teas vs focus/action so I  don’t burn out.  Burn out serves no one.  It’s a sorry story.  I resist that route. As well as cynicism. That doesn’t help anyone either.

I try to eat healthy and I’m working out more than usual at the gym.  I’ve also been working more in my garden, ’cause even though I live in the city, there’s nature and beauty in my garden — a little tableau of land that seems manageable for me to have some effect over.

In whatever ways I can, I try to find inspiration.  Words, actions — whatever will deliver me into the arms of hope and determination.

On my quest, I found the perfect little book the other day.  Anne Lamott’s new Almost Everything, with the compelling subtitle Notes on Hope.  I leapt to buy it, and haven’t been disappointed.  Anne’s mind is not that dissimilar from my own.  We both do a lot of holding of paradox and easily go both to the dark and light.  She said (I paraphrase) her mind is like a bad neighborhood where you shouldn’t go alone.  I totally understand what she means.  It takes some courage to live in my own.  I wish I could describe the situation half as well as she does.  There I go again. Comparing mind doesn’t help either.  

This week, I came across this great video.  Heads up!  I’m going to share three short videos.  You won’t be sorry you watched all three!

I’m totally jazzed about so many of the candidates that are running on the Democratic ticket.  I’ve been sending donations all over the place.  Tomorrow, I’m going to canvas in Modesto.  I’m trying not to be attached to the results of the election, but the truth is I’m SO attached.

Take a look at this group.

And then early this morning while listening to America’s poet laureate, Tracy K. Smith get interviewed by Krista Tippet on the podcast On Being, Tracy mentioned this name.  Amanda Gorman, America’s first Youth Poet Laureate!  Tracy said she was impressed by her.  She indicated that Amanda and other young people give her hope!

Hope!  The word of the moment.  I went to look for Amanda and found these wonderful videos of this awesome young person!

 

And isn’t it kind of sweet that Jenna Bush (Dubya’s daughter) said she would vote for Amanda for President when she plans to run in 2036?  I kind of really love this irony.  Ah, yes!  Hope for our future!

I love all three of these videos.  I’ll leave you today with this inspiration and hope!  Would love to hear what you think.  If you can feel the hope!

xo,

Gayle