Hope is not a solitary activity. What I am saying is: we need community, we need to engage with others to encourage hope.

When you isolate, you and yourself will most likely struggle to hold on to Hope. I, by myself, surely get into a downward spiral if my thoughts, left to their solo activity, are not checked. 

During COVID, when we had to isolate, I chose to use the app “Motivation – Daily quotes”  to interrupt my own thoughts and feed positivity. I scheduled it to interrupt and insert outside thoughts six times a day. This helped to crowd out negativity. Another way was to pick up the phone and engage in conversation and care with another person. FaceTime is even better.

I have enough on my to-do list to keep me busy, and alone, for a very long time… It takes initiative and drive to connect with another or a group of people. It has never been a bad thing. If anything, people will thank you for reaching out. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate. Ask people to meet up over coffee, or a walk, or a PleinAir. Any activity will do. You might have to start by phoning, but you alone do not need to decide on the where, when or how.

You don’t have to be best buddies; a simple civil social interaction can do wonders for the soul.  I do realize we are different, some more introverted than others, but ALL of us STILL need OTHERS.

When your situation calls for a lot of time and dedication to your work, even a few minutes of “Hi, How are you?”, and genuinely meaning it and listening, is still worth the while. These small moments can bring comfort and a sense of connection.

As an “emergency act”, start DOING something, something PHYSICAL. Start MOVING your body. Stop dwelling in your mind and start focusing on a practical, physical activity. This provides a mental break. 

What specific steps can you take to be more inclusive? How can you actively support and create community in your daily life?