Thursday 24 January 2019

What is Hope?

Hope is that small glimmer of desire that taints your idea of the future.
Hope fills your chest or sits in the back of your mind, urging you forward with anticipation.
Hope may be ludicrous or a possibility, yet the feeling you feel is the same.

We went to a private viewing of the Modern Masters of the Hermitage and the guide told us that at the turn of last century (1900), people were full of hope. The hope for the future, the exciting time of possibilities infiltrated the art, and that was why the masters used the bright yellows and painted their representations of the world with pink or blue hues. It is a very joyous collection, and that feeling is passed on to the viewer. (So if you haven't seen it yet, make sure you go, if only for the Kandinsky's).

I was thinking that at the turn of the century, moving into the 2000's, we didn't have the same hope and enthusiasm for the state of the world. We were on edge, slightly jaded in achievements and quite the opposite feelings to those of possibility. How have we done this? Why have we messed it all up so much?

Hope is one of the under-rated human emotions. If you have it, don't let people dismiss it. Avoid their attempts to kill it with bleak realism. Tend it like a precious flower and let it bloom. Maybe nothing will change except your outlook. See the world around you hued in pinks and bright yellows. Though maybe, if you chase hard enough, something wonderful will happen.

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come, 
Whispering 'it will be happier'...” 
― Alfred Lord Tennyson

Linking with #TriumphantTales

22 comments:

  1. I agree that hope is such a key emotion and it's important to never let anyone dampen that. Without hope, how can we look to a brighter and better future? The collection sounds lovely x #KCACOLS

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  2. It's so hard to define, isn't it? I think without hope we have nothing. You're right, it's massively underrated!

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  3. Welcome back! Those colours really bring the feeling of hope and the possibility of hope. And yes, I agree, without it we have nothing.

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  4. Hope is so important. It's easy for our hope to be crushed but it's something worth holding onto and protecting.

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  5. I like the idea of a sense of hope as expressed through the hues in the paintings. #TwinklyTuesday

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  6. I agree with you. I think hope is underrated. I think hope holds a lot of power. #KCACOLS

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  7. Loved this! Your post reminded me of the Emily Dickinson poem “Hope” is the thing with feathers,
    That perches in the soul,
    And sings the tune without the words,
    And never stops - at all.

    One of my favorites!

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    1. I don't know that poem. Thanks for the heads up!

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  8. Sometimes your outlook seems like everything. The really twisted TV and movie villains always say the worst thing you can do is give people hope then take it away.
    I think the 1900s were pretty wild and bursting with possibility. Sounds like a great exhibit and yes, I'd go for the Kandinsky's alone.

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    1. Interesting about the villans. Yes. It's a powerful weapon.

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  9. Beautiful post Lydia and welcome back. I think hope is like trying to catch a rainbow to see if there is gold at the end. We may not achieve it but it sure feels good having a go.
    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. Next week the optional prompt is the first of the regular photography ones: Share Your Snaps. 4/2/2019. Denyse

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  10. oh wow this is so powerful! #kcacols

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  11. People can crush your hope, often not even realising by using a negative word or emotion. We have to protect our hope and carry on regardless of their beliefs! #kcacols

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  12. Yes hope does seem somewhat dampened doesn't it, but we can all work on that #StayClassyMama

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  13. My favourite poem speaks to this: Tread softly for you tread on my dreams... #DreamTeam

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  14. I've always thought without hope there's nothing. So important to have, thanks for linking up #twinklytuesday

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  15. I think there was more hope back at the turn of the century but that may be because I was just starting out in my adult life and the potential seemed enormous. Now reality has kicked in, work and family have taken over my life. I have hope for my children's future as the present political climate seems quite daunting. Thanks for linking up with #stayclassymama

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  16. Hope is totally undervalued. In fact, I've been accused of being to 'rosy' when all I do is try to think positive. Great things to think about! #kcacols xoxo

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  17. It is the positive human emotion because without hope you have nothing. There is this story about being without hope, The devil was having a moving sale, he was selling of his tools. Someone asked him what his best seller was, the devil said "Discouragement because when people are discouraged and without hope, all of my tools work." #TriumphantTales.

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  18. I'd certainly be happy in a world of pinks and yellows. That's something to work on for sure. Thank you for sharing with #TriumphantTales.

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