Where Would You Be Without Hope
By: Sheri Levenstein Conaway
Tags: Hope, Kindness, Life, Humanity, Community

Where Would You Be Without Hope

Photo Credit- Marco Alexandre via Flikr

Hope for Humanity

It’s been a tough year for everyone. More than once, I despaired of an uplifting answer to the question: “Where will this all end?”

Nonetheless, I never lost hope, no matter how dark the night got, or how crazy people were behaving around me. I knew, as long as I had even the weakest glimmer of hope, the world would eventually turn right-side-up again. Even at the worst times in my life, I got off the roller coaster for a few minutes every dozen or so times around, so I continue to believe Humanity will find its North Star before too long.

Don’t be wrong. I love roller coasters and carnivals in general. I like my Disneyland days as much as the next gal. But I also like getting back to my own routine, and especially, back into my own space. I have no expectations the routine I return to will bear much resemblance to the one I left behind in mid-March.

Human Kindness

I’m encouraged by how people can be patient and friendly less than 2 weeks before Christmas. It assures me a glimmer of hope lives on in everyone. Despite the hardships, loneliness, fear, and frustration, I saw Humanity’s better side while waiting in line on my now infrequent round of errands. In each instance, people were patient, helpful, and kind.

In a year when nerves are frayed, uncertainty reigns, and fear is a frequent house guest, it wouldn’t have surprised me to hear people complaining about the wait, getting annoyed over little things, and being altogether rude. Instead, I saw love, kindness, and hope wherever I went.

Whether it was people helping each other move a line out of traffic lanes, or waiting for another car to join the queue to exit the lot, there was a noticeable lack of pushing for position, or impatience over extensive waits. Store employees might be harried from a non-stop press of customers, but with sparks of human kindness lighting the way, volume was the only real stressor. The crankiness I’d come to expect from holiday shoppers was noticeably absent.

Sparks of Human Kindness Everywhere

Photo Credit- Glenn Lascuña via Flikr

I was dreading going out into the world to run errands this week. I was certain I’d run across a lot of stressed-out people venting their frustration on anyone who had the misfortune of crossing their path. To my surprise and delight, crowded stores and parking lots brought out the kindness and generosity I’d been missing but hadn’t lost hope I’d find.

In a year when my fellow humans have disappointed and disgusted me time and again with hatefulness, divisiveness, and hostility, my spark of hope got a gigantic shot in the arm and began glowing more intensely. I saw no evidence of the ugliness that’s paved our streets and plastered the walls of both social and traditional media for months. Instead, I saw proof that my hope for Humanity’s return to its loving self wasn’t for naught.

When everything else fails, Humans truly can, and do return to their hearts, and act as if they’re all connected, instead of like it’s every man for himself.

Altered Holidays

Photo Credit — Maria Eklind via Flikr

Perhaps I’m not the only one who’s relieved that programming has returned to normal, signs and flags have come down, and people have either grown tired or lost interest in shoving their beliefs down other peoples’ throats.

Some might call it Christmas spirit, and I’m OK with that. I’d like to see it continue well past the holidays, and become part of the new normal once concerns over a debilitating, if not fatal virus wane.

Right now, people are missing regular gatherings, whether they’re in homes, bars, restaurants, or places of worship. My glimmer is becoming a conflagration of hope that doing without for most of the last year will bring new appreciation and respect for the people who make those gatherings special.

The Resilience of Community

Photo Credit — Author

The dance community learned through the loss of our favorite dance club, it isn’t the building that makes a gathering place special. Without the people, and the love they exude, a building would be nothing more than cold, emotionless space.

As we brought love and camaraderie to every place we met during the long, emotional months following the Borderline shooting, so, too will there be outpourings of love from people who’ve spent months without the warmth of a hug, or the energy of hundreds of happy feet on a dance floor.

Laughter will be more joyful, songs will be sung with reckless abandon, and hugs will be shared with whole, full hearts. The need to restrain emotions will no longer be necessary or desired after long months of keeping to ourselves and holding feelings close to our own chests.

The healing, life-giving balm of human touch has become more precious since we’ve had to place limits for the sake of everyone’s health. The memory of those touches made many aware of how essential it is to live, and how hard life becomes when walls are erected. The memories, and the increased awareness of how much richer lives were when people hugged, kissed, touched, held — keep hope alive; keep belief strong there’s an end in sight and better times ahead for all.

About the Author

Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income.

If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author.