The rollercoaster of the past few years has left even the most optimistic among us struggling to feel hopeful from time to time. Though it seems that crises come one after another these days and the future appears uncertain, if you look carefully, you’ll find a number of reasons, big and small, to have hope.
People Are Still Smiling
One of my favorite pastimes is taking a walk on one of the many local boardwalks near my coastal town. There’s nothing like ocean air to lift your spirits and give you perspective.
What also gives me perspective along those walks is the parade of friendly and smiling people I pass as I stroll up and down. “Good morning,” they say over and over or, “There was a pod of dolphins just a ways back. Take a look,” or “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Almost all of them greet you with a smile. You can feel a collective sense of gratitude and appreciation for the surrounding beauty and the day at hand.
In addition, I’ve found that when you look for smiling faces, you find them everywhere. They’re at the gas station, at the store, at the park, on the street—everywhere. It helps if you’re one of them, I suppose.
Smiling faces are contagious, compassionate, calm, and hopeful. It’s not all doom and gloom; look around.
