Hope

1. want or expect something: to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely
2. confident desire: a feeling that something desirable is likely to happen
3. likelihood of success: a chance that something desirable will happen or be possible

There was another school shooting today, unbelievable. I really don’t know all the details, I think a college in Texas. I could look up the details, but I’m choosing not too. I’m choosing not to turn on the news. I’m choosing not to look at the highlights on the Internet. I have to so that I remain hopeful.

The world scares me, it honestly scares me. It scares me to think about what life is going to be like for my children in twenty, thirty or forty years. It scares me to think about what life will be like for me and my husband over our lifespan. I really believe most of us are more disconnected from each other than ever, in a world where we say we are connected. Being connected through Facebook, Twitter, Text Messaging … is not being connected. We are disconnected. To be connected we need to look people in the eyes. We need to have our hands touch with comfort. Our hearts connected with passion. We are humans. We are meant to be together. We are animals that need each other. There is so much research out there that says we are better together. We need each other.

I ran some errands this afternoon between business meetings and happened to be in line behind a woman who definitely looked like she was having a bad day. She was texting with a friend. I wasn’t trying to read her text messages, but she was holding her phone right in my view. I couldn’t help but read:

Friend, ”What are you up to today?”

Woman in front of me, “Well, standing in line to return some things. Then have to bail my Mom out of jail. Then going to hang with my guy friend.”

Friend, “Damn, your Mom got picked up again?”

I stopped reading, I literally turned my body and therefore my head in a different direction. I didn’t want to read anymore. I wanted to give her privacy, although she didn’t seem considered about privacy. I said to myself, “I hope everything works out for her.” I meant it, I truly meant it.

She was in front of me texting for about 10 minutes, the line was moving SLOWLY.  Finally, it was her turn in line. She put the bag on the counter saying she had a return. She started pulling out merchandise. She had probably 20 things to return, no joke. The cashier got a little nervous and motioned for her colleague to come over. There was an intense conversation between the two employees and the woman. I couldn’t exactly hear what was being said, but I knew it was not good.

I had my items to purchase yet was getting worried about making it to my meeting on time so wasn’t sure if I was actually going to be able to make the purchase. I gave myself a time limit of three minutes. If I was getting my items rang up in three minutes, I could make it to my meeting in time. If I wasn’t getting rang up in three minutes, I would have to pass on my purchases.

Over the next three minutes it was more aparent that the woman had done something wrong. She was being questioned intensely and asked to provide proof of purchase for her items. She didn’t have any receipts and I overheard the total items she was trying to returned were valued over $900. Wow.

The three minutes had come, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to purchase my items. The cashiers behind the register did look at me and others in line and say they were sorry for the wait and they will be with us soon. I removed myself from line and returned my items to where I had found them. The purchase would have to wait for another day. (And, I’m not cheating on No Spending for 31 days, I was prepared to use a gift card).

As I left the store, the police were walking in. The woman was being escorted to the back room, which I assumed was not going to end well for her. I don’t know the ending of the story. I assume I know the ending and that the woman had something to do with either fraudulentally buying the items or stealing them and trying to return them. I also assume that she needed the cash to bail her Mom out of jail. I have made this up as I really have no idea what her situation is yet I know anyone being approached by police in a store is never a good thing.

The woman in the store as made an impact on my greatly today. Probably more so than the shooting today. It is not that I don’t care about the shooting, its just this woman was in front of me in line and from what I know, she is in a tough situation. I am hopeful for her.

You know the catch to this story, this was at a store that is litterally just minutes from my house. I live in the suburbs of Seattle in what I would consider to be a pretty financially stable area. We’re surrounded by Fortune 500 companies and the unemployment rate in our area is low. Yet, today I was reminded that no one is excluded from hard times. No matter where we live, where we work, what we do, we all have and will have hard times.

Through our hard times, wouldn’t it be nice if people would slow down, pay attention and help us? Wouldn’t in be nice if people would be hopeful with us and for us? Wouldn’t it be nice for us all to have the ability to be hopeful?

I’m hopeful for that woman today and her Mother who was in jail. I hope the two of them get on their feet again and soon. I am so hopeful for the shooter and the victims that were impacted in the shooting today. I remain hopeful that this world, some how, will become a better place. I remain full of hope. I share my hope with you.

Together we can make a difference. Together we can change. Together we can be hopeful.