Cultivating Hope In An Overwhelming World

I am often overwhelmed by the world. The foremost thought in my mind when I consider the track our society seems to be on is this: I want to take my loved ones and run away- perhaps to a plot of land that is farmable- and be mostly self sustaining in the areas of food, clothing, and domicile. Away from all the GMOs, smog, pollution, public schools, and people who are only in it for themselves. I want to protect us from all things superfluous, noisy, and congested. From politics to gas prices, it seems like every time I leave my house I am bombarded with negativity and moral bankruptcy. I don't believe all people to be this way, but they are definitely out there.

I get to thinking that if I could just take my precious ones and get away from all of that, life might be simpler, less utter exhaustion and more inner peace. Heavy on the joy and skimpy on the stress. The reality, I realize, would be much different from the utopian ideals that have lodged themselves in my fantasy. There would be arguments and disagreements, probably pertaining to how things should be done, or how someone's way is better than another's. Wherever there are humans, there will be discord, simply because we are imperfect creatures that tend to think that our own way is the best way. This isn't necessarily a negative thing. Sometimes, this discord leads to great inventions and discoveries that benefit people all over the world. To improve means to question previous ways of thinking and challenge ourselves to do better, go farther. As my father says: there is always room for improvement. You need only to look at the short history of our nation (and the infinitely longer history of our world) to see the validity in that.

I realize that I probably sound like quite a pessimist but I tend to think of myself as more of a realist. This is due to the irrevocable fact that no matter what happens, there is always a grain of hope deep inside me that whispers "perhaps things will get better, perhaps we can rise above our petty differences and work together to create a more relaxed, positive situation/world/atmosphere/experience..." I am not the only person with this perspective.

Hope, however unlikely to flower into the bloom of peace, is a strong and fierce thing to have on your side. Hope can help us to relate to one another, to see a future built on more than war and empty promises made to us by our "leaders". Hope can be fed and cultivated so that we have light even when the darkness is upon us, even when the odds are stacked against us and we see no way out. Smarmy as it may sound, I really believe it to be true.

After all- was it not hope that our forefathers possessed when they declared that the country they founded would be based on liberty and justice, instead of tyranny and oppression? Was it not hope that Martin Luther King Jr. preached when he spoke of black children and white children being given the same opportunities in life, to be treated equally, regardless of the color of their skin? These 2 examples in a sea of hopeful actions are a huge part of our history as a nation, and many of us express such hope in our everyday lives even in the face of great adversity. For some people, it takes hope to propel them forward after the devastating loss of a loved one, just to get from one end of the day to the other. Hope has true power; when you have it you can move mountians, and when it's absent life can seem empty and pointless.

Now, you may be wondering how I'm going to tie in farming and hope and culminate with a review, and thank you, dear reader, for sticking with me for 600+ words thus far to find out. I promise-a really good recommendation is about to be revealed.

The memoir I'm showcasing takes hope from emotion to action, from practice to practicality. "This Life Is In Your Hands" by Melissa Coleman is a study in the power of dreams and desires, and what it can cost to weave those dreams into reality. In 1968 Melissa's parents take their kids on a journey to become a fully self-sustaining family. They leave the majority of their physical possessions behind, abandon everything mainstream, and set out to begin their new natural lives. Inspired by homesteaders Scott & Helen Nearing and their controversial homesteading bible "Living the Good Life", the Colemans see nothing but blue skies and the realization of their dreams in Maine; incredible opportunities stretching well beyond the borders of their 60 acre plot.

Throughout this impeccably descriptive, beautifully written account, Coleman relates their triumphs and innumerable struggles as the slow unraveling of their family unfolds before your eyes. Their learning curve was steep and treacherous, peppered with tenderness and discovery of their own previously untapped abilities. Having a glimpse into the deeper lives of the Nearings was also very enlightening. Whether you've heard of them or not, you'll be surprised by what they preached and didn't actually practice. Even though she is revealing uncomfortable truths about these adults, it is obvious that she loved them dearly, and that her love has only deepened with the passing of time.

Unforgettable, captivating, and engrossing to the last word on the last page,   This Life is a lovely, heartfelt ode to her family- those still living and those passed.

Bookshop Benicia will be offering a 15% discount on this book, so come in and tell us you've been reading my blog and we'll smile at you and get really excited (and then give you your discount, of course).

Thank you for spending some time with my thoughts, and if you have any feedback on my blog, I always value and welcome it.

Onward and bookward, fellow readers!

This Life Is In Your Hands By Melissa Coleman (Memoir-Trade Paperback-$15.99-Harper Perennial-352 Pages-ISBN 9780061958335)

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