where do we find hope

[battenburg100]

i feel like there is no hope - i know i have more than some - a job and a partner and a family i love but everything feels so dark and there is no joy and that things will never get better.
Can i ask how you are dealing with this crisis and how to live life more happily than i already do, I feel so weak compared to other people who go through so much worse and cope, Thank you x

Well in January I never do anything anyway, dry january, dieting, saving money. By February millions will be vaccinated. The hard period is over as far as I'm concerned

We find hope in the vaccine. The way out of this has already begun. We just sit tight and wait for the Oxford vaccine to get its approval and hopefully the UK will power ahead with millions of vaccinations straight away.

We’re in the darkest time of the year. It’s why human beings hold their festivals of light then and also gather to party.
The fact that the partying is not allowed this year makes it difficult to get through the dark weeks but come what may the days will get longer again and everything will feel better again.
At the same time our vaccine programme will be accelerating and things will be better this year. Hang on in there x

Each day gets longer from now.

Take each day as it comes and notice that it starts to get lighter earlier and the day grows longer.

Its cold, but it can be beautiful.

I find hope in the Christmas story. God came to earth to join our suffering.

We’re busy playing monopoly so I’m finding hope in trying to build hotels on my land 💰

Yes, the Oxford Vaccine is due to be approved in the next few days. As soon as it is mass vaccination can begin and it will be a matter of weeks till things can start to get back to normal.

I have just booked a load of national trust visits for the rest of the holidays, I ll book some more for January too just little things to look forward to. There other stuff we would love to do but can’t so just trying to focus on what we can do. We will also spend some time planning some theme park trips to parks we haven’t been to in the U.K. and some in Europe for later in the year hopefully. My hope comes from having small things to look forward to, focussing on what we can do now and the things we love for later in the year.

I just found hope in the most delicious chocolate mousse I had for pudding!!

Jokes aside OP, I find hope in looking at the road directly ahead of me (and I mean directly) not the mountain in the distance. I have a chronic degenerative illness and I have learnt to live this way because of that. Enjoying the here and now, the little comforts even if they are not as grand as the plans I once made. Covid times are very similar. When I am physically suffering, I remind myself that the little moments of joy will come again. I am more than immensely grateful for the roof over my head and the food in my belly, this year has taught me you cannot take anything for granted. I know it all sounds a bit zen but I think the people who have fared best in this (not withstanding those who have suffered great losses, physical or financial) are the ones who accept that life is different or on hold and not crave what we just cannot have at the moment such as travel or theatre. That craving is the way madness lies. There will be a better day, but for now, try to look at the fact that what you have now IS a better day for someone else. Not a “there’s always someone worse off” post but just what works for me.

In 9 weeks it will be March.

You only need to make a plan for 9 weeks. Then the light will be back, the green will be beginning.

Started walking every day for at least an hour. Now I am running. It is great for clearing your head and forgetting about everything.

Also I am watching the data on the vaccine. By last Sunday in the UK we had vaccinated over six hundred thousand people. Probably vaccinated around a million people by now!

There are cracks of light you need to focus on them and try blocking out the negative stuff as much as possible.

Find it in the small stuff: a good book, chocolate, Prosecco, a game with your children, a lie in on Sunday, a new box set on Netflix, good news stories in your local press, a clean bathroom....whatever works. Focus on your daily life and what you do have, not what you don’t.

While I agree with enjoying the little things in the here and now it is also fun to make a list of things you want to do After Covid - because normal life WILL come back again.

Thank you SandysMam, I have been feeling very sad and lonely today, missing my family and my Dad who we lost in February. Your post gave me perspective and hope x

@battenburg100

I don't know if this is the kind of thing that helps you, but I love the famous poem Desiderata which I have included below. For me, it helps me centre myself and find inner peace in dark and difficult times. I find the last part especially pertinent now: the lines that start "Nurture strength of spirit...." until the end. I hope it might bring some spiritual comfort to you too.

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection.

Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,

and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927

That is a lovely poem JovialNickname, thank you.

Sorry about your Dad OP

For me it's hope in nature finding a way even though science will help too. And taking every day 1 step at a time. Making sure my house is tidy and cosy and welcoming. Making sure I achieve something every day, even if it's only making a nice lunch, or eating healthy food, or going for a walk.

I felt exactly the same but now Christmas is over I have hope ! Hope my parents will be vaccinated /hope for the Oxford vaccine and hope for spring xxx

I find hope in the following things -

1. Autumn is not lying ahead of me. It’s lying behind me.

1. Winter is not about to begin. Spring is.

1. It’s time to think about what spring bulbs to get.

1. A pandemic isn’t about to break loose with no doctor or scientist having a fucking clue about how to prevent infection. A vaccine (which is perfectly capable of being tweaked on an annual basis like the flu vaccine, to deal with mutations, is being given out as we speak).

1. There are plans to be made for the summer, which may be toned and tempered down, but nonetheless plans, and there are bigger plans to be made for 2022 and onwards. New projects? Home or self improvement? Things that normally need a bit of long term mulling and planning and shouldn’t be rushed? Now is the time to plan.

I think on New Years Eve, saying goodbye to this year that's caused us so much pain will be a nice and positive thing to do. Realistically I do believe that 2021 will be the year we are freed from the virus and the government restrictions surrounding the virus. So saying goodbye to 2020 on 31st Jan could be a focus, if you want?

That's a really nice and uplifting post @posturesorposes

The hope is the vaccine which works and more to come

It’s longer days and spring but mostly above

The primroses and snowdrops are surfacing and showing their beautiful flowers.
The world is turning to the light.

@rulewithawoodenfoot that is very helpful, thank you 🙏