Hope, the Renewable Resource!

Hanging on to Hope

From Acknowledgement to Action

Happy New Year !

“Hope just might be the most important renewable asset available to each of us in our lives.”

John O’Leary. (2020). In Awe. Random House, New York, NY, Page 73

Active Hope!

There are times in life when we experience challenges that test our ability to maintain hope for a better future.  We sometimes lose hope. But here is the good news… Hope is a renewable resource!  And action is the key.

As the year 2023 begins, we are all facing challenges to live our lives as fully as possible each and every day. When everything looks bleak and our goals and aspirations appear impossible to achieve, that is precisely when we need to take action!  I refer to this as “Active Hope” and I’m a firm believer in the fact that hope alone is not enough to lead us into a brighter future. 

Taking action in the face of adversity is never easy.  We often wait to be motivated before acting.  However, there are an increasing number of individuals and educators who say that we need to rethink our beliefs regarding motivation.  Not only do they say that motivation coming from an external source does not last…(lasting motivation must come from within), but they also suggest that taking action (just about any action, however small) helps provide motivation and stimulates hope.

Hope in the future can be renewed!  Take action and results will follow!!

Hope and Change – A call to Action

Our cartoon characters have decided to briefly address some of the changes that will inevitably come in the new year. Their comments can be seen below as well as on the Punchlines page.  In most cases, when change occurs, it can be a call for us to act. Hope alone will not get us where we need to go. We need action to accompany our hope for future outcomes.  Hope, the Puppy, and Oliver Owl provide a few suggestions for taking action in “Driving Lessons for Life!”

And, as the weather in the northern hemispheres turn a bit colder at the beginning of this new year, Hope, the cat and Harry, the dog have asked Oliver Owl to provide some background on the idioms and phrases that contain the word “Cold” within them.

Updates for January / February, 2023

Updates for January / February, 2023 have been included on the following “Hanging on to Hope” web pages:

• Punchlines
• Resources
• Keys to Resilience

Our emotions play a significant role in our lives and often influence our thoughts, actions and behaviors.  Dealing with these feelings that are so much a part of us can be a challenge.  Thankfully, there are resources available to assist us.  On the “Keys to Resilience” web page, I have added a section on Emotional Resilience.  It is a broad topic and will encompass a whole range of feelings.  The content on the “Keys to Resilience” pages will correspond to the Resources available on our “Resources” web page. For example, Depression and Anxiety are emotions that many of us experience from time to time, but can become serious deterrents to living a productive life and can lead to unhealthy addictions. A couple of excellent resources addressing these topics can be found in articles on the following websites:

Depression & Addiction: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment (bocarecoverycenter.com)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder – Addiction Center

We will continue to update the “Hanging on to Hope” web pages in the future with links to resources and articles related to all human emotions.

Note: Listings of human emotions from various psychologists and others can be found on the “Keys to Resilience” webpage.

And Let’s Not Forget “Emojis”

As we consider the interplay of emotions in our lives, let’s not forget those lovable little images that often accompany text messages on our cell phones.  Most of us use them from time to time. 

Emojis have a fascinating history and several articles and books attest to their popularity as expressions of our feelings and emotions in our communications with others.  You can read more about emojis in the following link on the internet: Emoji – Wikipedia

The Punchlines page this month includes the normal segments, but I would especially like to highlight 2 poems from Max Erhmann.  Let them lift your spirits as you enter this new year…

Uplifting Expressions

Two Poems by Max Erhmann

Desiderata (1927)

From  Desiderata Free Download | Sacredart Murals (sacredart-murals.co.uk)

A Prayer (1906)

From www.Allpoetry.com

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes   

A Prayer

Let me do my work each day; and if the darkened hours of despair overcome me, may I not forget the strength that comforted me in the desolation of other times.

May I still remember the bright hours that found me walking over the silent hills of my childhood, or dreaming on the margin of a quiet river, when a light glowed within me, and I promised my early God to have courage amid the tempests of the changing years.

Spare me from bitterness and from the sharp passions of unguarded moments. May I not forget that poverty and riches are of the spirit. 

Though the world knows me not, may my thoughts and actions be such as shall keep me friendly with myself.

Lift up my eyes from the earth, and let me not forget the uses of the stars.  Forbid that I should judge others lest I condemn myself. 

Let me not follow the clamor of the world, but walk calmly in my path.

Give me a few friends who will love me for what I am; and keep ever burning before my vagrant steps the kindly light of hope.

And though age and infirmity overtake me, and I come not within sight of the castle of my dreams, teach me still to be thankful for life, and for time’s olden memories that are good and sweet; and may the evening’s twilight find me gentle still.

Max Ehrmann – 1906

© by owner. provided at no charge for educational purposes   

From www.Allpoetry.com

Change is here . . .

Activate an active Hope!

Happy New Year !

And remember…

Adversity in life is NOT optional, but your response to it is!

Hang on to Hope!

Gregory Charles Reynolds