The trail I walk by the river
What gives you hope in life? The other night I found myself discouraged, as many people do these days, and I decided to make a list of what gives me hope in this crazy, mixed-up and amazing world of ours.
For some reason it feels comforting to make a list, like it’s a way to put order to the chaos, and remind myself to trust the process.
If it makes sense to you, I encourage you to make your own list (or write a Haiku or a paragraph) about what gives you hope. Then feel free to gift it to the other blog readers in the comment section.
What Gives Me Hope:
Trees
Kindness
Mountain streams
Smiling children
Rivers
Small towns
Slower rhythms
Deep breaths
Forests
Wilderness
Dreams
Sacred places around the world
Creativity
Mountains
Beaches
Valleys
A great story
Soft voices
Blues music
Gospel choirs
Tree groves
Authenticity
Long walks outside
A good nights sleep
Farmers markets
Live music in intimate settings
A thoughtful barista or anyone who is thoughtful
Knowing myself and what I need
Eye contact
A smile from a stranger
Laughter
Time with friends
City parks
Sitting by a river
Hammocks
Literary agents who love my work
book sales
Cool, clean water
Paths
Deep conversations
Beautiful images
Stories that give me courage
Old Friends
New friends
Nonjudgmental friends
My own groundedness
Courage from unlikely people
Old fashioned letters
Campfires
Wildflowers
Blue skies
Sunrises
Sunsets
Full moons
Waning moons
New moons
Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Inchworms
Lightning bugs
Tree houses
Seasons
Knowing that this, too, shall pass
Dignity
People with integrity
Wildlife
Nature
The Grand Canyon
National parks and national forests
Whales
Dolphins
Polar bears
Genuineness
Truthfulness
Loggerhead turtles
Bee hives full of bees
Honey
Hard work
Not working at all
A good film
A really well written book
Belief in something bigger than myself
A sense of purpose in my life
Mountain vistas
Belief that there are good people in the world
A belief that we are all connected
A good meal
Unplugging from electronics in the evenings and weekends
Poetry
Poets
Artists
Bookstores
Libraries
Knowing I could be wrong about things
Tolerance
Acceptance
Imagination
Writers who actually write instead of just talk about it
Art supplies
People who read
People who read novels and short stories
Literary journals
Young people who refuse to follow the herd
Old people who refuse to follow the herd
Anyone who dares to be different
Independent publishing
Writers who are empowered
Good editors
Belief in myself
Readers, readers, readers
Gratitude
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What gives you hope in life? What would you add to the list?
My novels are available as Audio books at Audible, Amazon and iTunes.
Here’s one which is related to yours of authenticity and courage: people being honest with each other, so they can both be fully expressed,which frees them to be more fully and creatively alive. Yeah!
Wise words, Anne. Yes, that gives me hope, too. 🙂
Susan,
My favorite on your list is “Courage from unlikely people.”
I’ll add salt marshes and egrets, since I’ve recently returned from Bald Head Island. Egrets for their grace and salt marshes for their mystery and expansiveness.
What gives me hope:
I’m doing my final edits to Entertaining Welsey Shaw (been procrastinating for a month) and it’s not terrible. I’m able to actually like parts of it.
I guess that’s enough for me right now… 🙂
I like thinking of there being hope in salt marshes and egrets, as well as mystery. Cool beans.
Good luck with your final edits, John!!