Hope is All Around

Hope is the predominant theme in my upcoming novel. It may not seem that there is hope for the protagonist or the central relationship, but I aim to show young people that anyone can live the life they want. Everyone deserves it. Love, hope, and opportunities are everywhere. Most of the people I know are in their early twenties, and my protagonist is just behind us. As you approach and enter your twenties, reality catches up to you and you start to flail. In this month’s blog post, I am going to tell you how I find the hope I need and hopefully convince you that you are not doomed. This can apply to people of all ages, but is targeted towards my younger audience and peers.

Recently, I have re-discovered the power of friendship. Yes, that mysterious thing that allows the heroes to defeat the villains. I’ve always sworn by the healing powers of talking; discussion is the simplest outlet and one that has always brought me clarity. I have a therapist for this, but I have also identified my closest friends. Spending time with them and returning to the rhythm of having a ‘best friend’ has done me the world of good. Besides having someone to talk to, the platonic love and support that come with it are often underestimated. While I agree that romantic love has its medicinal purposes, friendship should be part of our foundation. Independence is just as important as having a support system. Finding the right friends is a sure-fire way to restore your hope.

Something more abstract but still useful is a way of romanticising your life. For example, embody the world you so often escape into. How many of you are rewatching Gilmore Girls now that it’s Autumn? I know I’m guilty of it. And, for the next few months, we will walk to work or school with a coffee in hand, pretending we live in Stars Hollow. We will pretend to enjoy studying to the extent Rory and Paris do. We will plug our headphones in and listen to ‘There She Goes’, applying lip gloss as we pray to find our very own Logan (before you pelt me with rocks, you may substitute the name!). And, of course, we will dress in shades of cinnamon and sienna, feeling as chic as the actresses on our screens. The point I’m trying to make with all this is that it helps to have something beautiful to compare your life to in order to enjoy it. You might have to work, but so does Lorelai, so why don’t you pretend you live a life like hers? It doesn’t have to be that specific, though. Just pick some pictures from Pinterest and think of how your life might inspire someone the way those pictures inspire you.

Gilmore Girls might not be your cup of tea (or coffee), but I suggest identifying what kind of stories are. Not only does it give you the means to romanticise your life, but it brings hope in other ways. Surrealism, comedy, and horror are where my interests lie as their messages are presented in such a brash way. It is honest and bold, and that is what I find most comforting. Indulging in the right story is comforting and inspiring, providing us with perspective and making us feel like everything will be okay. Remember, you are enjoying a story, not merely ‘consuming media’. You are allowed to have fun. Bonus points if the story is a bit stupid and you’re attached regardless.

As it’s been less than a year since I decided to prioritise writing as a career, I still have a lot to figure out. Therefore, I need hope. I have my friends and fictional fantasies, but I’ve also discovered that practical planning isn’t the chore I thought it was. I feel safest when I know exactly what is happening. If that is not possible, I will learn as much as possible. Yet, I have only recently discovered how to apply this to my career and budget. I have been planning the release of my short story, looking into educational courses, budgeting, and building a weekly schedule. I don’t want to talk about my life too much, nor do I want to give away any big career moves, but I want to let you all know that I’m doing okay so you know my advice has some validity.

This post is dedicated to everyone who keeps me going: my best friends Zoe, Dylan, and Becca (kings/queens of London, the internet, and Dundee), my parents Colin and Catarina, Logan from Gilmore Girls, good scary movies, and everyone who reads my blog.

Happy Autumn!