CHOOSE HOPE, DO THE RIGHT THING

I read a post on social media that ended with ‘Choose Hope.’

So I am.

Every time I hear bad news I say it.

Things could work out better?

Say it to yourself.

We had people over recently, and like baby boomers everywhere, the talk included a recap on the latest shit storm of controversy.

One of the people got asked how they felt.

They smiled and said, “I always choose love.” (Hey LAD)

Is there a difference between choosing love or choosing hope?

I’ll leave that to you. How could you go wrong with either?

It’s one thing to keep up with the latest outrage, the latest disaster, the most recent result of some defective fucker making a name for himself the wrong way, and choose love.

If you’re like the choosey people, you might see each stressful moment others face as another burden on your back.

If you do it’ll be a heavy load getting heavier.

Yes, you’ve got your own problems, and everyone else has their problems, but every problem to ever to see the light of day isn’t something to throw yourself into.

 

But, If You Do . . .

Work with the people in your life, keeping an eye on those who worry on everything endlessly to the point of failure.

Failure here is letting decisions made by others far away hit you harder than anything you’ve ever felt.

Once you absorb the body blows of ‘What do they think they’re doing’ you feel it necessary to talk about it?

That’s a good thing.

But maybe, just maybe, the people you’re talking it out with take it to heart, to the point of ‘I’ve got to do something.’

So do something, but choose hope first. Write a blog, sing a song, help someone who isn’t asking.

Hear the story, read the news, and choose hope.

Go on a march, a hike, a drive, and choose hope as life presents itself as less than pure.

There’s homeless tents, garbage, and graffiti every where you look.

You’re not having a perfect day like you see from influencers?

Choose hope that you’re not the only person with doubts that anyone has that kind of day.

You feel like your life isn’t as good as you’d hoped for?

If you don’t have a checklist, make one that includes the big ticket items:

Health?

Family?

Time spent with others?

Careful spending?

 

Hope

Are you healthy enough to visit a Holiday Fair?

I saw people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs all full of the joy of the season.

Instead of feeling left out, left behind, forgotten, they embraced the spirit of the season.

I didn’t ask, but they looked like a group who would choose hope.

If they didn’t, the people with them did.

I believe they hoped their loved one, their neighbor, still got the wonderful feelings of childhood tradition and warmth with the holiday crowds.

Say what you will about avoiding crowds, but seeing one ancient person after another smile at little kids whooping it up is a gift for anyone who notices.

When you’re out with a young family who has a kid that brings that smile, it’s hard to miss.

The kid with the expectant face for each new sight shows the joy that reminds the rest of us how we used to feel before one thing after another says, ‘What are you going to do about it?’

Choose hope, that’s what.

When you hear someone explaining why it’s important to tell kids the truth about Santa Claus?

They’re not talking to me.

Or Santa.

 

 

PS: When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

 

PSS: And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be

 

PSS: And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin’ until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be