Living in a recession many of us have watched as dreams have deferred and even died. We've made sacrifices that were hard, and even if we've had steady jobs- we've known someone who has struggled with unemployment or underemployment. Today I was turning at a stop light and I saw a woman on the corner with a sign that said "struggling to survive, please help". It was as though I had heard the voice of all those around us.
In times of economic and environmental trouble we cannot simply cling to idealism. Being pragmatic is pivotal to survival. Yet, if we deny every ideal for the sake of survival, what have we lost? Some ideals help us leave survival mode and progress to getting ahead in life. Beauty, art, passion, and philosophy can coexist with poverty and strife. While sometimes we must sacrifice our dreams- there are times we can only truly find them when all other things are at their bleakest.
It takes a small degree of idealism to see the hope and the opportunity in times of trouble. Life is hard, there is no denying that. But when you can transform setbacks into opportunities- you become your strongest.
Just because you cannot see a reason for hope does not mean it isn't there.
I leave with an interesting little trick, a demonstration of sorts. Find a clear bic pen, the sort with edges instead of a smooth cylinder. The best time to do it is during the morning light- stand the pen up on a table, hold it there and try to catch the light. When you angle it just right the light will shine through the plastic of the pen, fracturing into tiny rays of light on the surface. Only at a certain angle and with certain lighting can you do it- but when you do it is pretty spiffy. You can't always see the light shining from the pen, but like hope- when the conditions are just right you can find it.
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