17 Comments
User's avatar
Al Bellenchia's avatar

“Optimism is the belief that things are going to get better. Hope is the belief that we can make things better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope is an active one. It takes no courage to be an optimist, but it does need courage to hope.” - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Keep hope alive by continuing to act, write and speak out. We do what we can with what we have.

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Al. And thank you for that wonderful quote.

Expand full comment
Julie's avatar

Frankly I just try to live one minute at a time. Because none of us know what the future holds. As far as our political future it makes me feel insane. Congratulations on the new baby. Take care ✌🏻

Expand full comment
Sam Jones's avatar

I share your faith in what this country is capable of becoming, and I agree that better times are ahead. Even if they may be hard to see.

Just clinch tight to those precious moments until we get there!

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you, Sam!

Expand full comment
Celena Crawford's avatar

Congratulations on being a mom and having another on the way! It's a fleeting moment in time so enjoy every aspect of it that you can! The time that we are in is a dreadful one to get through, no doubt. I have been following Heather Cox Richardson and she writes about a lot of historical accounts that are eerily similar in ways to things that are happening today. Some things long ago, some things not so long ago, but the good news is that the people of the time somehow got through them. So, it's doable! The most promising thing I've been hearing is that it takes just 3.5% of a population to resist a tyrannical takeover. So, I'm really hoping to see that 3.5% plus in full force on October 18 No Kings Day!!!

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you, Celena! I believe in that 3.5%!!!! I think we have more. Thank you also for reading!

Expand full comment
Joyce Mason's avatar

needed your comment of hope today!!!! Thank you!!

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Joyce!

Expand full comment
Cylvia Hayes's avatar

This is an honest piece. It's hard to imagine bringing a baby into this country, this world, just now. However, as I've written about many times, our systems (political, economic, media, ecological) were failing before the 2024 election. I believe if we can fight for and hold onto democracy the next couple years we'll have opportunity for deep systems-level and cultural change. By the way hallelujah anyway! is a form of opposition. Enjoy and in joy.

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Love this! Thank you for reading, Cylvia. I'll hallelujah anyway with you!

Expand full comment
Carl Selfe's avatar

I hope you find joy in your life and can put our current political environment aside. You have a mission for your family that takes precedence to all else. We are somewhat stymied until midterms anyway. You should know that is when the battle begins in earnest. In the meantime all of our flag officers in the military have been given instructions from the Commander in Chief on how to negotiate stairs. Further, the Secretary of War gave them instructions on how to shave. I mean. I feel safer knowing our civilian leaders have not a clue as to what they should be doing. Talk about stumblebums. They had weeks to prepare. Unbelievable.

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Carl!

Expand full comment
Debbie Detmer's avatar

Hope is NOT a plan! You must be prepared to FIGHT for that land you grew up taking for granted. You MUST NOT hope things will get better. You must help make that so!

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Debbie. That last sentence could have gone in a different order, but for me, the work follows the hope and inspiration. So glad you believe in fighting for justice too!

Expand full comment
Scott Dworkin's avatar

Thanks for writing this!

Expand full comment
Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Thank you for reading, Scott!

Expand full comment