Much as I know I shouldn't, I find myself regularly reading the news. Sometimes I just can’t help myself. I almost always end up regretting it because it reminds me of all the things that are going wrong in the world, and it makes me think of all the things that could be better.
It would come as no surprise to you if you’re a regular reader of this blog or if you engage with my music and writing, that I am unashamedly, unapologetically, unequivocally hopeful and optimistic. I even made a whole album about it. And yet, sometimes it can be incredibly difficult to find things to be hopeful about.
When I find myself feeling down about this all, I seek out shreds of hope to cling to. It’s not always easy, truth be told. Sometimes I recall good things that have happened in the past, sometimes I think about good things that I can do to put a little bit of hope in the world, and sometimes, pertinent to this post, I stumble upon a simple reminder that hope is worth believing in. This reminder came courtesy of writer and musician Nick Cave, who, in response to a question about cynicism and losing faith in other people, said:
"Cynicism is not a neutral position — and although it asks almost nothing of us, it is highly infectious and unbelievably destructive.…Unlike cynicism, hopefulness is hard-earned, makes demands upon us, and can often feel like the most indefensible and lonely place on Earth. Hopefulness…is the warrior emotion that can lay waste to cynicism. Each redemptive or loving act, as small as you like...says the world and its inhabitants have value and are worth defending. It says the world is worth believing in…” – Nick Cave
I love this so much because on occasion, I too find myself asking the same question, and I couldn’t have put it better than Nick Cave when he wrote about the value of small acts like singing a song or showing someone a thing you love. This underscores my position that now more than ever, we need art, and we need artists.
Seeing as there’s no shortage of bad news and cynicism, this week I’d like to spotlight just a few of the many things that have brought me joy and hope recently.
- Hope is attending an event at an arts centre, where people from all walks of life come together to sing their hearts out and make beautiful harmonies together. It tells me that despite what the news and social media would have you believe, we’re not all at each other's throats. Humans have the ability and the will to band together and do beautiful things, like make art. It also warms my heart to see the good work that art centres do for their respective local communities. We could all do more to support them.
- Hope is getting a private message on social media from someone who saw me perform live, telling me how much they loved the performance. It means the world to me when people take a moment to tell me what they thought of my performance. I think we should all compliment others more often, the world would be a better place if we did.
- Hope is receiving a photo of my 3-month-old nephew. He’s growing so fast, and I want to create a better, kinder, more beautiful world for him and his generation.
I’ll leave this here for now. Hope you have a wonderful week, and if you feel so inclined, please share what’s brought you hope this week.
My new album, Hope on the Horizon, is out everywhere now. Not a fan of streaming and want to support my music? You can download a digital version or buy a CD now here. Thank you for listening, spreading the word, and reaching out to share your thoughts. I appreciate it. Have a great week.