Ten things that give me hope in July

In line with my series last month on hope and optimism, I’m going to occasionally list out things that I’ve come across that give me hope. I’m thinking of making it a regular feature. We’ll see.

Anyway, here’s ten things that bring me hope this week:

Image by Wolfgang by Pexels.

—People watching. Oh, we’re a crazy lot and can be annoying as heck, but there’s still a lot to like about people. We’re rude, mean to others, and greedy, but we also have enormous capacity for love and kindness. We can be thoughtful, caring, and generous to complete strangers. Oh, we’re an interesting lot. I especially love to people watch in public places like grocery stores, concerts sporting events, etc.

—Meet Cutes NYC on Instagram. I stumbled across Meet Cutes NYC one day waiting for my wife, it’s man and woman on the street interviews on how couples met and have stayed together. I find these stories of love addicting. When people find out what the interviewer is asking, their eyes light up and their stories prove to me that love has no rhyme or reason. For example, one couple met when she took a sign language class, a nurse found his love interest simply helping an ER patient recover from surgery, and finally another couple met across the bar twenty years after first working together.

—Being quiet and introspective. In this crazy world, a five-minute break from the noise comes in handy.

—Laughing in public places. 

Image by Anthony by Pexels.

—Birth of the Special Olympics. Fifty-five years ago this month, the first Special Olympics was held at Chicago’s Soldier Field, with more than 1,000 athletes from the U.S. and Canada — all of whom had intellectual disabilities. The goal was to put a bright and very public spotlight on ability, not disability.

—Farmers Markets.

—Christmas in July. Well sort of. Yes, yes, that Christmas movie classic, Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia turns 35 in July. Die Hard follows New York City police detective John McClane (Willis) as he tries to to stop a takeover of a Los Angeles skyscraper while visiting his wife. The movie, which cost about $25 million to make, was released on July 15, 1988 and has earned more than $141 million from the box office. Merry Christmas and “Yippee-ki-yay!”

—Dad’s press conferences. Evan Berger & Kevin Laferriere, creators of @DumbDadPod and The Dumb Dads, bring humor to the perils of parenting. They are two real life Stay-At-Home dads who love creating parenting-focused content and having honest dialogue about what it means to be a parent. I especially love their mock coach/father press conferences. It’s exactly the things that go through my mind, err, at least went through my mind when my kids were little and I was outnumbered!

—Iced tea.

National Park Service – William Trego, 1883

—A cold, cold, devastating winter. When most people in the U.S. and parts of Europe think of July, I’m sure they think of the summer sun, maybe even a cool drink by the pool. When I think of July, I think of a freeze that cuts to the bone.

Yes, yes, I know I’m running off the rails here, but stick with me, I think you’ll appreciate this. I think of crazy winter conditions, because I think of America’s Independence and the Revolutionary War and how many different events had to come together for America to become what it is today.

In December, 1777, General George Washington moved the Continental Army to their winter quarters at Valley Forge, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were suffering not only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but from low morale. Despite the brutal conditions, Valley Forge marked a milestone in the army’s military experience. The army lost huge chunks of men that winter, but was able to train and undergo a significant transformation, from ragtag recruits to an ordered and disciplined fighting force and helped change the course of the war, turning the Declaration of Independence from meaningless words on a page to a new reality.

In any event, hope is a good thing! Here’s wishing you lots of hope, love, and happiness.