Practice Hope.
As hopefulness becomes a habit,
you can achieve a permanently happy spirit. Norman Vincent Peale
This is not the hope of idle dreaming. This is hope
as a positive force that guides thoughts, words, and
actions. This is the hope of confidence in the future.
As we open 2002, we will be reminded
many times of the horrors of September 11th, 2001. It
would be so easy to remain burdened with fear, tragedy,
and grief.
No, we will never forget. But we won't
wallow, either.
Instead we will form and hold in our
hearts the hope of where we wish to be, as individuals,
as families, as citizens, and as a nation. We will think
of, and speak of where we hope we are headed, and do
so with the confidence that our hopes will become reality.
We will not be distracted. We will
not buy into the rhetoric of negativity. Along with
Hope, we will practice Compassion and Strength, laying
the groundwork for our future happiness.
This week I will explore
my hope for the coming year.
I will practice Hope, expressing it in my words and
actions, knowing
that by doing so, I bring happiness to myself and others.
