Home› A Moving Train

Things that give you hope.

brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
in A Moving Train
Earlier today, I started thinking about some things that give me reason to feel hopeful.  I thought about starting this thread earlier but held back because every time I tried to word it, everything I could think of sounded corny, too touchy-feely, overly sentimental, etc.  But what the heck.  It's kind of like "What's so funny about peace love and understanding anyway?"  Beside, in times like these, finding something to feel hopeful about can't hurt, right?

So if you have something at the moment that really inspires you to feel hopeful, please share it with us here.  On the other hand, if you're feeling cynical, hopeless, or just plain pissed off, that's cool and I get it, but maybe save that some someplace else?  Cool.

Two things gave me reasons to feel hopeful today.  The first is this amazing young lady and all those other kids out there like her who are standing up and asking us to work on combating climate change.  Miss Greta Thunberg:

And secondly, a news source I find both inspiring as well as challenging, The Guardian:




“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













«13456

Comments

  • F Me In The BrainF Me In The Brain Posts: 31,263
    Our very own ElwayVedder and IamTom

    The love he receives is the love that is saved
  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 38,562
    "Hope Is Found Here"

    in Alcoholics Anonymous
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 Posts: 10,739
    'Best day ever': Terminally ill Sask. man granted final wish for ice creamhttp://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/best-day-ever-terminally-ill-sask-man-granted-final-wish-for-ice-cream-1.4435505?cid=sm:trueanthem:ctvwindsor:post&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5ce915ccc3070b0001dc9676&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3ESd1Xp6efSzbSKH6SBcW20zc8SW-dGrjYBPu8e_PNSwtFGMURP18YW9g

    This.  Kind people like this.  KInd organizations like this.
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Posts: 12,845
    Brian, I wanted to post this story but couldn’t find a prison reform thread to post it in, but the fact that there are people focusing their careers on prison reform gives me hope. Plus, I thought you would be interested in it, since it references people you have mentioned before like Bill Ayers and the Weather Underground. 

    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/us/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-da.amp.html
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    oftenreading said:
    Brian, I wanted to post this story but couldn’t find a prison reform thread to post it in, but the fact that there are people focusing their careers on prison reform gives me hope. Plus, I thought you would be interested in it, since it references people you have mentioned before like Bill Ayers and the Weather Underground. 

    https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/05/24/us/chesa-boudin-san-francisco-da.amp.html
    This is great.  I hope we'll here more about what Boudin would like to see done to increase reform rather that simply cram more people in prisons.  Thanks for posting it!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    Jason P said:
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
    You're sense of humor is big time source of hope, Jason.  :smiley:

    Kudos to the cat!  Man, I wish mine would do that!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 39,017
    Jason P said:
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
    But did the cat flush and close the lid?
    09/15/1998 & 09/16/1998, Mansfield, MA; 08/29/00 08/30/00, Mansfield, MA; 07/02/03, 07/03/03, Mansfield, MA; 09/28/04, 09/29/04, Boston, MA; 09/22/05, Halifax, NS; 05/24/06, 05/25/06, Boston, MA; 07/22/06, 07/23/06, Gorge, WA; 06/27/2008, Hartford; 06/28/08, 06/30/08, Mansfield; 08/18/2009, O2, London, UK; 10/30/09, 10/31/09, Philadelphia, PA; 05/15/10, Hartford, CT; 05/17/10, Boston, MA; 05/20/10, 05/21/10, NY, NY; 06/22/10, Dublin, IRE; 06/23/10, Northern Ireland; 09/03/11, 09/04/11, Alpine Valley, WI; 09/11/11, 09/12/11, Toronto, Ont; 09/14/11, Ottawa, Ont; 09/15/11, Hamilton, Ont; 07/02/2012, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/04/2012 & 07/05/2012, Berlin, Germany; 07/07/2012, Stockholm, Sweden; 09/30/2012, Missoula, MT; 07/16/2013, London, Ont; 07/19/2013, Chicago, IL; 10/15/2013 & 10/16/2013, Worcester, MA; 10/21/2013 & 10/22/2013, Philadelphia, PA; 10/25/2013, Hartford, CT; 11/29/2013, Portland, OR; 11/30/2013, Spokane, WA; 12/04/2013, Vancouver, BC; 12/06/2013, Seattle, WA; 10/03/2014, St. Louis. MO; 10/22/2014, Denver, CO; 10/26/2015, New York, NY; 04/23/2016, New Orleans, LA; 04/28/2016 & 04/29/2016, Philadelphia, PA; 05/01/2016 & 05/02/2016, New York, NY; 05/08/2016, Ottawa, Ont.; 05/10/2016 & 05/12/2016, Toronto, Ont.; 08/05/2016 & 08/07/2016, Boston, MA; 08/20/2016 & 08/22/2016, Chicago, IL; 07/01/2018, Prague, Czech Republic; 07/03/2018, Krakow, Poland; 07/05/2018, Berlin, Germany; 09/02/2018 & 09/04/2018, Boston, MA; 09/08/2022, Toronto, Ont; 09/11/2022, New York, NY; 09/14/2022, Camden, NJ; 09/02/2023, St. Paul, MN; 05/04/2024 & 05/06/2024, Vancouver, BC; 05/10/2024, Portland, OR;

    Libtardaplorable©. And proud of it.

    Brilliantati©
  • OnWis97OnWis97 Posts: 5,137
    Jason P said:
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
    That’s not hope for me...it’s cats getting on step closer to taking the world over.  Frightening.
    1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
    2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    I want so badly to have more hope for the future.  It seems that we are moving into a time of increased despair.  I say "increased" because I became aware of this movement many years ago when a friend in the mid 70's told me we were living in the age of anxiety.    Then some years later I read the phrase "antidote to despair" in either an Edward Abbey or a Wendell Berry book.  Around that same time, in 1983, Joan Baez was quoted as saying "Action is the antidote to despair.".  There is the hope and the answer.
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • tempo_n_groovetempo_n_groove Posts: 40,351
    brianlux said:
    Jason P said:
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
    You're sense of humor is big time source of hope, Jason.  :smiley:

    Kudos to the cat!  Man, I wish mine would do that!
    I'm wondering if the reason my cats like to come around me when I'm in there is because they want to try out the toilet?  Lid stays down all the time.
  • dankinddankind Posts: 20,839
    https://youtu.be/cHzbGbWFPiQ
    I SAW PEARL JAM
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Posts: 20,266
    tempo_n_groove said:
    brianlux said:
    Jason P said:
    My mom's cat took a poop in her toilet.  Outta nowhere!  No training, cat just pooped in the toilet.  There is hope.
    You're sense of humor is big time source of hope, Jason.  :smiley:

    Kudos to the cat!  Man, I wish mine would do that!
    I'm wondering if the reason my cats like to come around me when I'm in there is because they want to try out the toilet?  Lid stays down all the time.
    My cat drinks out of the toilet.  Sometimes not too long after I have destroyed it.
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
  • Meltdown99Meltdown99 Posts: 10,739
    brianlux said:
    I want so badly to have more hope for the future.  It seems that we are moving into a time of increased despair.  I say "increased" because I became aware of this movement many years ago when a friend in the mid 70's told me we were living in the age of anxiety.    Then some years later I read the phrase "antidote to despair" in either an Edward Abbey or a Wendell Berry book.  Around that same time, in 1983, Joan Baez was quoted as saying "Action is the antidote to despair.".  There is the hope and the answer.
    May I suggest turn off the news and tune out of politics.  I started working the graveyard shift a few months back and do not have time for the news (maybe the evening news), and I purposely have no 24 hours news channels, plus I am not on the computer very much.  It's kind of nice not listening to these talking heads and newsreaders anymore.  Really, what changes if I am a little uninformed, except I am much happier and could not think of a better time to be alive.  Of course, I just got notified that my OT shift was cancelled so I get a 2 day weekend for the 1st time in 6 weeks...or it could be the Cannabis talking.  What the fuck do I know?  LOL
    Give Peas A Chance…
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    Meltdown99 said:
    brianlux said:
    I want so badly to have more hope for the future.  It seems that we are moving into a time of increased despair.  I say "increased" because I became aware of this movement many years ago when a friend in the mid 70's told me we were living in the age of anxiety.    Then some years later I read the phrase "antidote to despair" in either an Edward Abbey or a Wendell Berry book.  Around that same time, in 1983, Joan Baez was quoted as saying "Action is the antidote to despair.".  There is the hope and the answer.
    May I suggest turn off the news and tune out of politics.  I started working the graveyard shift a few months back and do not have time for the news (maybe the evening news), and I purposely have no 24 hours news channels, plus I am not on the computer very much.  It's kind of nice not listening to these talking heads and newsreaders anymore.  Really, what changes if I am a little uninformed, except I am much happier and could not think of a better time to be alive.  Of course, I just got notified that my OT shift was cancelled so I get a 2 day weekend for the 1st time in 6 weeks...or it could be the Cannabis talking.  What the fuck do I know?  LOL
    It's definitely a good idea to keep a balance.  I admit, there are time when I think, "Why do I bother?", but it's in my nature to want to know what's going on in the world.  I pretty much limit my time keeping up with "the news" but am skeptical of pretty much everything I read, look for the more reliable "news" sources like The Guardian, and always read with a critical eye.

    As for politics- so much of that now is a joke.  I'm more concerned with what naturalists, scientists, and well-informed, intelligent writers are up to. 

    Kudos for you being able to handle graveyard shift.  I did it for 3 months in 1969 and one full year in the mid 70's.  I'm a bit of a night owl but even when I was younger after 2 or 3 or maybe 4 AM I crashed, and now after midnight or 1 or 2 AM, I'm done.  Never did well on graveyard. 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Yesterday while walking down my driveway I noticed a strange black mop-like think on my roof ... upon closer inspection it was discovered to be a furry black squirrel.  We locked eyes.  It held strategic advantage with the high ground.  The squirrel had two options ... A) high-tail over the pitch of the roof and escape to freedom while I retire to my recliner in defeat or B) look at me with a stupid expression and go full shane mcmahon from the top of the the roof to the ground.  The squirrel chose option B.  

    Just launched itself into the air and did a 15 foot belly flop onto the grass and made a funny squeaky toy sound when it landed.  Then it just ran off and I retired to my recliner quite delighted.  
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    Jason P said:
    Yesterday while walking down my driveway I noticed a strange black mop-like think on my roof ... upon closer inspection it was discovered to be a furry black squirrel.  We locked eyes.  It held strategic advantage with the high ground.  The squirrel had two options ... A) high-tail over the pitch of the roof and escape to freedom while I retire to my recliner in defeat or B) look at me with a stupid expression and go full shane mcmahon from the top of the the roof to the ground.  The squirrel chose option B.  

    Just launched itself into the air and did a 15 foot belly flop onto the grass and made a funny squeaky toy sound when it landed.  Then it just ran off and I retired to my recliner quite delighted.  
    LOL, cool story! 

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 38,562
    this. this also makes me incredibly sad too.




    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    mickeyrat said:
    this. this also makes me incredibly sad too.




    Agreed.  Excellent read, thank you!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Things that give me hope ... I made it through Thanksgiving week with no one bringing up politics once!  there is still hope ...
  • pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,528
    The younger generation is much more tolerant of people that our generations have been.

    hearing a child laugh or giggle is still one of the greatest things in the world and makes me smile each time I hear them whether I know them or not.

    you can still find music that suits your mood regardless of how you feel in that moment


  • stuckinlinestuckinline Posts: 3,367
    The announcement of the 2020 Europe Tour! Hopefully the boys will tour the USA before the 2020 election. 
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    stuckinline said:
    The announcement of the 2020 Europe Tour! Hopefully the boys will tour the USA before the 2020 election. 
    That would be cool!

    By the way, love that avatar of yours.  When I view it on a thread on my laptop,it looks like a little golden monkey bent at the waist.  When I click on it, then I can see that it's molten metal being poured into a guitar shaped mold.  Cool!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • stuckinlinestuckinline Posts: 3,367
    Thanks Brian! My avatar is the 2013 Pittsburgh poster.
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    stuckinline said:
    Thanks Brian! My avatar is the 2013 Pittsburgh poster.
    Nice!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • kce8kce8 Posts: 1,636
    When I listen to the young people around me.
    Now that Johnson has won for his Brexit plans and Trump, Erdogan and Putin are everywhere, these young people have just had enough of it. Many of them are starting to become politically involved in our community and don't want to wait any longer to get ahead.
    Perhaps this Greta sentiment has affected it, but it is largely uncertainty in all areas and the constant inactivity of politicians that drives young people.

    That gives me hope!
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 42,017
    kce8 said:
    When I listen to the young people around me.
    Now that Johnson has won for his Brexit plans and Trump, Erdogan and Putin are everywhere, these young people have just had enough of it. Many of them are starting to become politically involved in our community and don't want to wait any longer to get ahead.
    Perhaps this Greta sentiment has affected it, but it is largely uncertainty in all areas and the constant inactivity of politicians that drives young people.

    That gives me hope!

    Hope!  Ahhh, just the word I needed to hear today, kce.  Thanks!  :hug:
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • kce8kce8 Posts: 1,636
    Me too Brian! :hug:
  • kce8kce8 Posts: 1,636
    Song Of Good Hope!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_le35eei-g

  • vogonpoetbythelakevogonpoetbythelake Posts: 2,146
    Thank you for sharing!! 
Sign In or Register to comment.