Hope is distinct from positive thinking, which refers to a therapeutic or systematic process used in psychology for reversing pessimism. In other words, hope is a feeling of optimistic feelings in a negative or falling situation to overcome it in success. The term false hope refers to a hope based entirely around a fantasy or an extremely unlikely outcome. Wikipedia
In life, we all have certain expectations of what things are and should be and how things should happen. When I think of hope, I envision a balloon over my head with a little string that comes down and touches my head. At the top of it all is hope, hope that tomorrow will be better, hope that I can handle the diversity that lies before me and hope that I am where I am supposed to be right now and am doing those things I need to do. I sometimes think there is such a fine line between hope and false hope. You may be hanging on by a thread when you are in pain and things aren't going your way and it is easy to doubt at this time. Isn't it always easier to handle things when they come one at a time and we are feeling well and had a good nights sleep? For those people that don't get enough to eat, or can't eat, or are in pain, or can't sleep, or don't have enough money for whatever they need to do next- where is hope and how do you find it? Hope comes floating by in small indiscreet ways. The person that smiles at you and gives a hug, another that opens a door or gives you the last parking spot, or another that takes your cart back to the store as you just don't have the energy or just the shoring up of love and consideration throughout the day. The well is never dry but sometimes you need to get outside yourself to find it. I find that when I start to stumble, it is better for me to get out and give back in some way or help someone else in whatever way presents itself, even a phone call to a shut in can refill my bucket of hope. That fine line exists between hope and false hope but also between reality of what is and what we hope it will be. Many times our hopes give us a false heading and we have to sit down and rethink the reality of what is happening. My dad used to be my compass and could get me back on track and now I have to find my own inner compass. This sounds all too deep on a Thursday morning but today as the sun came up and the birds began to sing, I found a new day with new hope and new motivation. That may run out before the day is over but tomorrow I hope for a refill and a new beginning. Make it a great day and know there is hope out there for you all in many different forms and accept the hope that is given you. S