Pondering Blue– At West End Gallery
Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.
― Langston Hughes
The past week has seen many of us dealing with a wide range of emotions– grief, disbelief, confusion, despair, anger, fear, and resignation. I am sure that doesn’t even scratch the surface. Our response to what is taking place hits each of us in all sorts of ways, and not a single one of these emotions pleases us.
In short, it’s been a hard week. It would be easy to throw up your hands and say, “I give up.”
I have had that impulse more than once during this past week. The future felt dark and dismal. Hope seemed to be a pale light that was quickly fading over a distant horizon. I am getting older now and it felt like we were facing a struggle that might well extend far beyond the end of my life.
Why not give up?
Well, for one thing, that is exactly what those who seek to dominate the future want from us. They want us feeling defeated and hopeless. And that goes against my contrarian nature. I don’t like being told what to do or not do and I sure as hell don’t like people making assumptions about me submitting to their will.
I think that’s a very American trait. It sometimes makes us hard to understand and difficult to govern. In the long run, it might be the common bond that sustains us.
But even more than that, this past week has reminded me of the work of Viktor Frankl, the Holocaust survivor whose transcendent book Man’s Search For Meaning has sustained me through many dark periods in my life. In his book, Frankl recounts his time in the Auschwitz death camp. He observed that those who were able to survive the horror of that place were those who somehow were able to hold on to a purpose for their life, who saw a future that they needed to strive for, even as the present moment felt hopeless. This purpose, even a modest one, often gave them the drive needed for survival, creating a path forward for them.
It is that need to have a future and purpose on which to hold. This is allowing me to slowly set aside my grief and hopelessness so that I might get to work on fulfilling that purpose.
I hold fast to my dreams. And I will not allow anyone to shake them from my grip.
Anyone…
Here’s a more upbeat song that you might expect, the classic Don’t Rain on My Parade, from Barbra Streisand and the film Funny Girl. It’s a song that is about holding onto whatever dream you have despite everything and everyone that tells you to give it up.
Time to get stirred up, folks.
Redtree Times 
Great pep talk. I am feeling much better. Thanks.
I had just read your comment from yesterday when I sat down to write this morning. I had you in mind when writing this, so I am pleased that it gave you even the slightest glimmer of hope. We need to hold on to those wings…
So true.
I often wonder how my late husband would have felt about all of this mess. He left Nazi Germany on a kindertransport at 14 years old and lived in England during the war years. He did not live long enough to see this mess the first time. His optimism and strength always inspired me and hopefully, I can canal his spirit. I feel that same spirit in you. We have to stay strong. Thanks for reminding me of that spirit.
Interesting that you mention your late husband, Lucy. When I received your initial comment, I thought back on what you had told me of his life– the kindertransport, living through the war years in England and serving as an interpreter for the Nuremberg Trials– and wondered the same thing as you: what would this man who had seen so much think of this moment? I believe we owe him, and so many others who endured and witnessed the horrors and hardships imposed by prior authoritarians, our pledge to maintain a spirit of defiant optimism and indomitability. It won’t be easy but history tells us that we will get through this. Keep your head up, Lucy! Thank you for reaching out. We all need to be able to do that.