Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul…

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I’ve heard it in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

— Emily Dickinson

The Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

Because as long as you were alive, there was hope…

That’s all people need in order to do amazing things, Alenna.

Hope is the great human motivator. It always has been.”

— The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

Allow yourself to hope and believe again…

Don’t allow the memories from the past to spoil the present,

or to rob you of a future.

See it Through

When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
See it through!
Black may be the clouds about you
And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
See it through!

Edgar Albert Guest

The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.

Jane Eyre : Quotes

The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter –  often an unconscious

but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.

 

I am no bird; and no net ensnares me:I am a free human being with

 an independent will.Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing 

animosity or registering wrongs.

***

Her coming was my hope each day,

Her parting was my pain;

Thechance that did her steps delay

Was ice in every vein.

I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of

hopes and fears, of sensations and excitments, awaited those who had

the courage to go forth into it’s expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst it’s perils.

Beauty is in the eye of the gazer.

***

To prolong doubt was to prolong hope

***

Friends always forget those whom fortune forsakes.

***

Make my happiness–I will make yours

 ***

 You can overcome your past, no matter how bad it is.

Your will shall decide your destiny.

***

 Loving and respecting yourself is essential, and is the key to independence.

***

The possibilities for life are endless for those who take risks.

***

 Don’t be afraid to speak your mind.

 

Charlotte Bronte

 

A Hopeful Dream

A life I think is full of hope,
Is turned in to something to just help me cope,
With all the lies and stares,
All I can do is just try not to care,
But deep inside I feel it over flowing,
All the anger, tears, and sorrow,
Trying to keep it to myself,
Is harder then any thing else,
But if i let it go,
I will hurt way more then you know,
So I’ll keep it to myself,
Put my head down and take it all,
Cause one day I will look up,
You know what I’ll see,
A better Life,
One with no anger, tears, or Sorrow,
One with a hopeful Tomorrow,
When that happens I’ll hold my head up,
I’ll know that nothing will hold me down,
So until that day comes,
I’ll keep going,
Keep moving on,
Until that wonderful day comes along!