#hope

#hope

As I started writing this, folks were heading to the polls for the first time in a long, terrible year. Hyperbole somehow failed us when the White House was (is still being) destroyed. Plus, everyone's Social Security numbers were stolen, the world's biggest anti-vaxxer wants to ban Tylenol, and SNAP benefits were frozen for the first time. Yeah, it's been that kinda year. Pandora's box has been opened and all the maladies therein have been unleashed.

When things go wrong in our lives, we can experience stress, feeling a constant sense of threat that keeps us from solving our problems. In an emergency, this stress reaction can save our lives. The alarm center in our brains responds to a threat with the survival reaction of fight, flight, or freeze, causing us to take immediate action (LeDoux, 1996).

Optimism lives in a curious in-between space. It isn't an outcome so much as an expectation about one. Yet optimism and pessimism each have immediate consequences for mental health. When we expect good things, daily life feels safer and more enjoyable. Persistent pessimism, on the other hand, breeds emptiness and depression. As a psychiatrist, I often meet people who undermine their own positive feelings.

First and foremost, please be kind to yourself. I do not need to know much about you, dear reader, to know that you are likely struggling with something: regret, guilt, sadness, anger, or pain. The reason I know this is because these experiences are universal to us all. Please treat yourself with kindness as you navigate these challenges because it makes the journey more bearable.

"Well, you don't like to think about your mortality, but I was so fortunate to have some great people that sent me in the right direction. I got to be part of a trial that was propitious. It really worked. It's called PD-1 (therapy), and it really, really, really worked."

"In Every Brilliant Thing, the child tries to encourage his mother to re-engage with life by leaving notes containing a list of everything that makes life worth living."

Mental illness is just a part of you, not all of you. It's just like a lot of other serious illnesses. It's not your fault that you got sick. It happens a lot. And lots of people get well.

It was a fairly chaotic period for all of us, but over time things calmed down and we found a rhythm. It actually gave us more time to create together.

The story of Andy Dufresne's time in Shawshank provides a blueprint for smart financial choices, emphasizing the importance of hope and long-term planning.

Cullen describes the musical as a "knockabout romp" with themes of addiction, hope, and perseverance, showcasing his journey from despair to heroism.

"If you have ever followed a rainbow to its end, it leads you to the ground on which you are standing." ~ Alan Cohen

The central theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year at Sienna's Duomo is 'Hope,' symbolized by a unique marble inlay designed for the occasion.

In the wake of politically driven changes diminishing DEI efforts, it is crucial to focus on resilience and the potential for recovery in higher education.

"How you put the star on the cutting room floor? / No wonder every shot you take is always hella subpar / I was taught to stay humble, the meek shall inherit the earth / but being meek won't bring my meals / Now run my check, I know my worth."

My heart is stained black, bronze, and teal blue, a tortured soul, forever true. Each season starts with whispered hope, but within weeks Draft focus becomes how we cope.

Gethan Dick’s dystopia begins at Elephant and Castle in London, revealing underlying truths and the fragility of civilization amidst a relentless pandemic and societal decay.

When discussing her indomitable spirit, Deborah Szekely noted, 'Optimism against all odds is how things get done in this topsy-turvy world,' which epitomizes her approach to life and philanthropy.

"As long as we let them keep on, there is hope," writes Weisman, referring to the people he writes about in this book.

With the Sox trailing 3-0 in the seventh inning, pinch hitter Joshua Palacios walked and later advanced to third on an error by shortstop Trevor Story.

Attendance would be low, I feared, for the 'Hands Off' protests of April 5, and no matter what the numbers were, they wouldn't make a difference.

"Music has a way of getting to people. Music helps people connect, connect to the situation that Alon is in," she said.

Guilt, while seemingly negative, can provide an illusion of agency, suggesting that our efforts can influence change, masking an underlying sense of hope.