Deborah - I appreciate the way you name the middle for what it is. That sense of being stuck, thinking it’s the whole story, felt honest. The bulbs pushing up again, even after being cut down, was the thing that stood out for me. Life finding its way. It brought to mind how often we walk past the things that are trying to rise.
And your distinction between hope and forced optimism is an important one. Being able to let the present be real, without shutting the door on what might still grow in positive honest ways, feels like a more workable path for most of us. Thank you for writing this and helping us hang onto hope in these more than difficult times.
Thank you for reading and these reflections! "How often we walk past what is trying to grow..." I love that thought. I will be looking for what is trying to grow in and around me.
I find it's easier to hope if you follow all the good news around the world. Strength in numbers. Stronger together kinda thing.
To that end I just finished a 5-year project curating all the good news in the world (and Far Side cartoons). It's all tech, medical and energy breakthroughs that I believe will save us. In dark times, I hope it shines a light.
love the imagery of the bulbs pushing up through the mud—it captures so beautifully how hope persists even in difficult times. I also appreciate how you differentiate hope from forced positivity; it feels like permission to hold the pain and still move forward. This is such a grounding reminder to show up for ourselves, even in the middle.
As I stand in the shadows of my own making, afraid to voice my unseen longings and not daring to hope for an outcome beyond what my own judgement demands, I appreciate your wisdom and guidance on cultivating hope.
Hope's like them first may violets pushin up through the frost heaves up here in the county,quiet, stubborn and awful pretty. She heals a body when nothin else can
Deborah - I appreciate the way you name the middle for what it is. That sense of being stuck, thinking it’s the whole story, felt honest. The bulbs pushing up again, even after being cut down, was the thing that stood out for me. Life finding its way. It brought to mind how often we walk past the things that are trying to rise.
And your distinction between hope and forced optimism is an important one. Being able to let the present be real, without shutting the door on what might still grow in positive honest ways, feels like a more workable path for most of us. Thank you for writing this and helping us hang onto hope in these more than difficult times.
Thank you for reading and these reflections! "How often we walk past what is trying to grow..." I love that thought. I will be looking for what is trying to grow in and around me.
I find it's easier to hope if you follow all the good news around the world. Strength in numbers. Stronger together kinda thing.
To that end I just finished a 5-year project curating all the good news in the world (and Far Side cartoons). It's all tech, medical and energy breakthroughs that I believe will save us. In dark times, I hope it shines a light.
https://darby687.substack.com/p/headlines-of-hope
love the imagery of the bulbs pushing up through the mud—it captures so beautifully how hope persists even in difficult times. I also appreciate how you differentiate hope from forced positivity; it feels like permission to hold the pain and still move forward. This is such a grounding reminder to show up for ourselves, even in the middle.
Thank you, Dr Nicole! That feels like the work to me, and that I tried to share. I appreciate your reflection on this!
As I stand in the shadows of my own making, afraid to voice my unseen longings and not daring to hope for an outcome beyond what my own judgement demands, I appreciate your wisdom and guidance on cultivating hope.
Thank you
It's so hard to hope when past hopes have been dashed... But hold on! 🩶
Thank you Deb. My reckoning is with myself and my own mistakes.
We've all got shadows. You're not alone.
Hope's like them first may violets pushin up through the frost heaves up here in the county,quiet, stubborn and awful pretty. She heals a body when nothin else can
Such a great metaphor. 🌷
Thanks for the reminder of hope in small steps. I appreciate the grounded practices to embody hope even when we don't feel hopeful.
So glad you found it helpful! We all need hope, and it can feel so elusive sometimes.
Greetings Deborah, I hope you’re having a good weekend.
Just wanted to drop a comment, I’ve enjoyed your work for a while now, you appear on my feed from time to time, thank you.
You may enjoy my newsletter, I talk about historic books… it’s more interesting than you’d imagine 😉
Here’s my latest!:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jordannuttall/p/the-cost-of-love?r=4f55i2&utm_medium=ios