100 days of hope — 3. Hope and Despair…
…Tragedy and Love
…Romeo and Juliet.
I grew up with this movie poster on the wall opposite my bed. It was one of my older brother’s and cousins’ favourite movies, which to this day holds a strong nostalgic weight of a certain era of my life.
Having read these words off the poster so many times, it makes sense that when I bring hope to mind, it is readily followed by it’s counterpart, despair.
But the poster does not say ‘hope or despair’, it is not one or the other but a journey that incorporates both. And that has been my experience of life so far. We cycle through feelings as we go through experiences. In certain moments, we can feel trapped, lost and alone and our connection to a meaningful future can collapse — in others we feel safe, free and a sense of belonging and the future can feel more expansive and optimistic.
My own mental health has improved over the years. As the cycling of my feelings becomes less of a surprise, it’s something I can use to my advantage. Challenging, painful feelings can be met with a little more compassion and acknowledgement they will likely pass. Feelings of bliss and joy can be grasped a little less tight, in the knowledge that though they may fade, they will be back again soon enough.
I’m hoping that my writing on hope will turn more playful as it progresses, but maybe I’ve got some things to process first, we’ll see.
