Have you ever wondered what the streets would be like if there were no traffic lights? Would there be more accidents? Would it be difficult for pedestrians? Would there be longer commutes and a rise of unsure drivers? It’s an unusual question because we rarely think about traffic lights; even less consider the purpose of the 3 colors.
Imagine driving down a road and all the traffic lights are green, allowing you to move forward to your destination. You’re not only contemplating the opportunity to advance, but you’re living it. Another moment, the light turns yellow, forcing you to slow down, pay closer attention and look carefully from one side to the other to evaluate the possible routes. Eventually, the light turns red; you’re now forced to stop. It’s a time in which you wait — whether patiently or impatiently — but you wait nonetheless.
Of course, you could decide to speed on yellow to avoid the red light. But by doing so, you’re not only taking a risk; you’re cheating yourself out of moments to reflect on the paths you have taken thus far, and on what decisions you will make next.
Some days we may feel like we are stopped at a red light or in other words, stuck. This is usually accompanied by fear, with a high possibility of it turning into hopelessness. When we’re stuck at a red light, we may begin to fear that we won’t make it on time to our destination. The longer it takes, the more we lose hope in the route we were headed on.
Lately, life has felt that way. As if we are stopped, watching unfortunate events unfold. Could it be that hopelessness has taken hold in our day to day because of fear? Perhaps the loss of hope stems from seeing uncertain roads. Is it possible to be hopeful while fearing that we won’t move forward?
Baruch Spinoza once wrote, “Fear cannot be without hope, nor hope without fear.” He believed the two are deeply intertwined. Hope carries fear of disappointment, while fear holds hope for a better outcome. In a world where truth and lies coexist, a lack of promises occur, hatred is uplifted, and love is diminished. When everything seems chaotic, what can we do? I propose we face it with values we all know — respect, compassion, gratitude and hope.
Hope gives our life meaning — it illuminates others. A hopeful person is one who believes that better days are ahead. Regardless of how things seem, hope is conviction that eventually, things will work out. It’s lived by focusing on the positive perspectives: having a roof over our head, food on the table, comforting friends, the warmth of a family, and the simple (yet huge) deal of being alive.
These days we may find ourselves losing hope, but there are always ways to regain it: being near supportive people, practicing gratitude, loving others, and imagining a better future.
My wish is that we live in hope and not immersed in fear. While we wait to move forward, there is space to reflect, and that reflection drives us to create a better world around us.