Amidst so much pain, where do you find hope?
The Midweek Conversation
We know there is a lot that’s wrong in the world today.
Hurricanes…
Wildfires…
COVID…
Afghanistan…
The climate crisis…
Voting rights…
The abortion law in Texas…
And on… and on…
There is no shortage of very serious, very present, and very real alarm bells out there that make life feel unhinged. If you are on social media, there is undoubtedly an unending opportunity for doom scrolling. And even if you aren’t, in conversations with friends and family, in what you read in the newspaper or see on television, these are dire, sad, and trying times.
And yet, in each of these instances there are people pushing back, even putting themselves in physical harm to help solve problems. And then there are all the other elements of life that can rekindle the precarious embers of hope —a cherished poem re-read, a cup of coffee with an old friend, a view of a hummingbird out the window. Some scenes we yearn for are epic in scope and others intricate in detail, moments to be savored, springboards for a sense of “steady-ness.”
So today in our midweek conversation, I want to appeal to whatever inspirations of balance you have mustered and call on our wonderfully thoughtful and supportive community to create a space for sharing.
So in the comments, please let us know:
Where are you finding joy?
What brings you hope?
Where is there beauty?
What are you reading, watching, or listening to?
What have you done, or where have you gone that has reinforced your connection to others or to nature?
We understand that in addition to large-scale challenges, many people are suffering personally. These are particularly trying times for those with mental illness. There are no simple answers, but maybe we can, together, continue to build bonds that help sustain us.
Some ground rules for these Wednesday chats (and also the comments sections on other posts):
I want a space where people feel safe to express their views, as long as they are offered in good faith.
I want a space where ideas can be challenged, especially my own.
I want debate. But I want it to be civil.
I want people to come here with open minds, and open hearts.
I want this to be fun as well as serious.
We can agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
This won't be a popular comment, but I find peace in the truth. SCOTUS made clear, in its Wednesday midnight ruling, that it will support any state laws that advance their conservative ideology. The majority of Texans don't support a complete and total restriction on abortions enforced by unlimited lawsuits with no recourse. The majority doesn't support unlimited gun ownership and open carry, without the requirement of even basic training. The majority doesn't support crushing voter suppression. The majority doesn't support the unrestricted spread of a deadly virus. But majority support or opposition to state laws is no longer relevant in the US. So, we must face the fact that we are no longer a democracy. Hope is irrelevant, but the truth should not be.
Yesterday I saved a bee from drowning in the birdbath. It was tenaciously hanging on to a leaf, trying to stay afloat. I picked up the leaf it was on and placed it on the patio floor in the sun. It was pretty dazed and water-logged so I gave it a little hummingbird nectar to drink. It drank for a while and then washed its face; I was hoping wings, etc., were still functional. In a few moments it lifted up off the ground slowly and then suddenly flew away. I felt really good and happy the rest of the day and realized that even the act of making a difference for ONE creature gave me hope. I need to remember that when I get depressed about the world.