Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Pliny the Elder said this, and how true. It gives meaning to life and direction to Man. It is seeing the beauty of what surrounds us, instead of focusing on the darknesses – but it is more than optimism, it is knowing that there is a sense in everything.
Spring is certainly a metaphor of this fundamental concept. With the first day of spring comes a balance of daylight and darkness. With the increased light come effects that improve our mood and bring about feelings of hope. Spring provides a bridge from the barren darkness of the Winter to the bright warmth of Summer. With the soft rains and rise in temperature, the earth invites us to plant seeds that will be transformed into flowers and fruits. And we plant our seeds of hope. We let the sunshine warm our skin and our hearts and we ask “What can be done?”
The little seed of hope we plant will sprout into that something which will give us a sense of what we are doing here. Some time ago I realised that my sole hope in my life was that of being at peace with myself and those around me, of laughing as much as possible and somehow making a difference in this planet, even just a small difference. Leaving this world a little better simply for having being here. But how? I would ask myself. I come to see now that even the smallest things make such a big difference: smile at the people you meet on the street, thank those around you when they do something for you, or even just for being there, make compliments to those everyday people you so take for granted. But mean it. There is, in fact, so so so much to be grateful for.
What do you hope for? The least you should do is try to figure this out and then live it up.
Spring calls out the hibernating animals and offers a homecoming to hundreds of bird species. We too are called back to nature, to walk, to do gardening, to stick our hands into the moist soil and plant our little seeds... Spring soothes our weary bones and Hope lifts our spirits with it.