Hope. For Real.
+ J.M.J. The word and concept of "hope" has been a major theme of my life this year. I started volunteering at a place called Hope Medical which offers assistance to pregnant women. I wear a ring sometimes on my finger that says "hope." And I've been wrestling with the concept all year. People like to talk a lot about hope. It's one of those words that looks nice on sympathy cards and inspiration posters. The word just sounds good. The reality is that hope is an action word. It's actually believing that something good is going to happen to you, that your situation is going to improve. But what happens when days, weeks, and months go by, and you're still searching for something better? That's when hope starts to fade. You don't even remember what the word really means. It's like something torn and forgotten sitting in a dark dusty corner. This year, I've had a lot of ups and downs, just like the rest of