What is Hope Anyway?

Morning sun in the midst of winter

"Hope is being able to see that there is light

despite all of the darkness."

~Desmond Tutu

Hope Defined

According to Webster, HOPE is a feeling of expectation, a feeling of trust, a sense that something we desire will happen. We don’t really have to hope that the sun will rise each morning, we know this will happen. In the midst of winter we may hope for an early spring, but we know spring will come eventually. So real hope is reserved for the unknown, the not knowing for sure. To be honest, I’m not someone who loves the unknown. I love a sense of control and knowing. So not knowing how long it would take for my concussion symptoms to resolve was one of the more difficult aspects of the journey. When months of head pain, pressure, and fatigue turned into years I was getting a little worn out.

Hope’s Opposite

The opposite of hope is despair, doubt, and fear. The marathon of brain injury recovery is daunting and it is so easy to choose despair. As months turned in to years I began to doubt that I would actually feel normal again. But in my darkest moments Something would well up from deep within me and remind me to stay hopeful. Healing cannot happen without hope. So don’t give up – that’s the easy way out. Hang on and remain hopeful, life will get easier.

Hope is Everything

One of the most hopeful books I have ever read is The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. She is a holocaust survivor who chronicles how she remained hopeful even in the most horrific of circumstances. Dr. Eger writes, “Our painful experiences aren’t a liability – they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” Without hope, we don’t survive. Lean on your loved ones, read inspirational texts, meditate, pray. Trust and expect that your health will improve. Do what you need to keep your hope alive – it’s everything.

Peace,

Sharon