I was watching an episode of ‘Gutsy’ on Apple TV+ last week and something Hilary Clinton said has stayed with me. She said, ‘we have an obligation to be hopeful’.

The context was a conversation between women refusing to hate despite being the victims of all manner of violent and abusive personal attacks. 

But apt as the line about hope is for that context, I couldn’t help but feel that it carries a message for us all right now.

Times are tough right now. Politically, economically, environmentally, socially, and culturally we are facing some of the toughest times our world has ever faced.

Despair is a natural response.

It’s easy to feel helpless. Victims, even.

But, like the women in the episode of Gutsy, we are faced with a choice.

Do we respond with hate, anger, bitterness, and despair? Or do we choose hope?

We can’t afford to stop hoping right now.

Hope is what carries us. Hope is what enables us to rise above all the storms that confront us. And the bigger the storm, the greater the need – obligation even – to be hopeful.

Now is not the time to give up on hope!

–Sam

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👉 @samradford | samradford.com