It's Okay to Have Hope EP 113

When things are uncertain, and the world feels crazy and surreal it’s okay to be happy and joyful and want nice things. Novelist and poet MaryAnne Evans put it this way: We can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them. We can’t give up. I feel lucky that I have days that are full of nice moments when I can feel at ease in the world. It reminds me to be grateful for what I have and to also remember, it’s okay to seek out those moments. We don’t end the suffering of others by imposing suffering on ourselves or denying our own needs. I’m imperfectly working towards staying positive and hopeful and ever mindful that many people in the world don’t have the options I have. It’s why hope matters. It’s why joy and love and kindness are key to ending suffering. Sharing that with others is a tiny step to easing the sadness and suffering not by ignoring it, but buy refusing to give in to it. It is okay to be happy. It’s okay to have hope, to nurture hope. It’s okay to want the best for yourself and the people you love. It’s okay to tune out the news, and the horrible things happening in the world for a few hours or even a few days. It’s okay to be joyful, to laugh out loud, to genuinely enjoy yourself. That’s how we change things. That’s how we turn the tide. Here’s to a happy, hopeful day ahead.