Hope. Some days it is in endless supply, other days the shelves are sparsely stocked. Right now, I am perched on a a millimeter thin sliver of hope. I have it, though. Unlike money or time, it doesn’t matter how much hope you have to feel a sense of security.

You just need to recognize its presence.

The days when hope is abundant, it is far easier. I do fully admit that fact, but the days when the hope feels onion-skin thin, those are the days when you grow. You struggle. Struggling is good because it means you are engaged in a fight for some change, or for some greater purpose. If you are struggling, and gaining no ground, you may want to change your goal, change your direction. Hope will help reorient you to a more effective way of achieving your goal enabling you to keep struggling. Ultimately, you will reach your goal.

I think struggling gets a bad rap because it is misunderstood. If you are struggling, you are in a dynamic state. working towards possible improvement. Said another way, one’s circumstances can only get better once the struggle is over and those moments of perceived pain pass. After all, a muscle has to endure tiny tears in order to develop more strength and agility.

And man it sucks. See, it is okay to validate the struggle. It is hard. Remember, though, if hope is recognized your struggle will not be in vain.

I have a modicum of it. Hope is there to get me through tonight and into tomorrow. Hope is blind faith in the universe, and coupled with a bit of struggling, or action, tomorrow can be whatever you choose to make it. I need to remember that if I change my ways great things are possible.

Hope, without hustle, is dead.

We use the word hope in such a flippant way, so much so that we have cheapened it and rendered the word meaningless. How many times have you heard someone say, “I hope things get better.” or “I hope the weather becomes more pleasant.” I hope the [insert sports team of your choice here] win.” Hope is more than that. It is not for suckers. It gives us something to strive for, something to struggle toward. It is the lighthouse beacon from afar, or the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope is your spirit and spirituality at work. It is that which gets you out of bed in the morning, and allows you to sleep at night.

Hope is always there. Search for your hope.

Open your eyes. Open your hearts.

It is there. I promise you.

Fight for yourself

Fight for some one else.

But by God, keep struggling, keep fighting. Never give up.

Hope is alive inside us all.