The Nature of Hope

Random House Webster's unabridged dictionary

Explaining hope as a feeling that everything will turn out all right in the end doesn't do hope justice. Hope is more than just a feeling; it is the glue that holds everything together. Without hope what would be the point of striving to do better, to seek new adventures, or to even get up in the morning. It is hope that gives us the drive to be resilient, persistent and helps us be eager to start another day, task, or relationship.

I've been thinking about a line from an Emily Dickerson poem "Hope is a thing with feathers" off and on for several years now. This line is from the first stanza of her poem.
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all,

Expanding on Ms. Dickinson's metaphor, I think that hope gives us the wings to have the vision to search for our highest potential. Hope resides within each one of our souls just waiting to give us the motivation to dream. It is the glue that holds our dreams within sight, while we gather our courage to persist until we have reached our goals. It doesn't matter if our goal is find the right and perfect career, school, spiritual enlightenment, significant other, or to find our new home; hope is there to give us the stamina to keep going.

Christopher Reeve once said "Once you choose hope, anything's possible." I agree with Mr. Reeve, hope isn't just a feeling that happens to you, it is a choice you have made. A choice you have to made over and over again. You can choose hope, which in turn creates the feeling that you can do whatever it is you wish to accomplish. Hope isn't a feeling that creeps up on you when you aren't looking; it is a personal choice.

I choose hope and so can you.