HMM....THE POSSIBILITIES OF HOPE!

 A series of essays.....

 ~ HOPE, DREAMS AND INFINITE POSSIBILITIES!~

.....as seen through my eyes!

By: Jacqueline E. Hughes

After living on God's wondrous Earth for several years, you occasionally find yourself attempting to explain the phenomenon of life to those you meet along its uneven, cobblestone pathway. Sometimes you feel quite comfortable because your audience is interested in your apparent 'words of wisdom.' For example, your grandchildren. There are times when your listeners are tough customers and wish to ignore the layers of experience and the excellent examples you have to offer. Your own children, perhaps? Then, there's always going to be that one student in life whom you'll find difficult to teach, challenging to understand, and often makes you question your trust in them. That person is....yourself.

As a woman, I sometimes question how I survived high school in the sixties, attended college, became a wife and mother, enjoyed close friendships along the way, and still made time to plan and dream? The answer is, hope. My conclusion is that we're nothing without it, even though some of us may think we've lost it along the way, somewhere deep between the dusty cobblestones, it's there. We just have to look for it.

Hope. It is a very hushed sounding 'four letter word' with an archaic ring to it, used to impart an old fashioned flavor of a much earlier, now distant, time in our life. 

On the contrary, dear friends. Every day of our life we utilize our options of hope in ways we don't even consider significant as in the thought that the traditional male role of breadwinner is no longer relevant within today's social norms. Our hopes and dreams may fluctuate with our current age and lifestyle to a certain degree, however, they should always remain very much alive and well. 

You see, if we lose all hope, if we deny the fact that we continue to dream, if we misplace the longing or desire for something accompanied by the belief in the possibility of its occurrence, we become lost souls. I know we continue to hope right up until the moment we pass from this world and into the next as I recall my father's smiling face upon seeing his four children together, by his hospital bedside, after so many years of separation. I believe his last desire, his final hope, was to see our faces, side by side, once again. He passed away a few short hours later.

~TOTALITY~

Hope came rushing out from the television screen like a colorful waterfall during a spring thaw as thousands of people observed 'totality' during the eclipse this past Monday. It was a spiritual experience that many found difficult to deny. Loved ones were held tightly and the expression of awe on people's faces was followed by tears of joy and delight as they were, collectively, exposed to the miracle of the universe we inhabit. My hope was that we were all capable of pocketing this marvel of the cosmos for future reference and continue on a daily basis to learn important lessons from the experience. Only time will tell.

Yet, even with the strength of knowledge, amazing life experiences, and pledges to see the value of our hopes and dreams take us far into the future, we, as students of life, can fail to see how relevant we are as individuals within the grand scheme of things. As I said before, there's always going to be that one student whom you'll always find difficult to teach. The reality is that if we don't believe in ourselves, life can become futile. Even when others see our potential, we may not accept this truth and become lost for a very long time. 

Am I good enough, strong enough, smart enough to compete in this world for everything I want to achieve? Well, that novel won't be published until it is completed. Those extra pounds won't disappear all by themselves. And, you'll never work at the job of your dreams if you can't figure out what it takes to get there. Even tiny miracles need a strong push in the right direction every now and then! 

One thing we can and should always understand and teach ourselves is how important it is to help each other; be there for one another, whether it's to help feed the underprivileged or hold a hand during a time of crisis. You will never know if or when the tables are turned and you may need to feel the solidness of a good friend or even a stranger in your own life. There is no room in this world for pure selfishness, the denial of basic human rights, or the contention that some of us are even, remotely, superior to others. 

As time continues to layer my world with plans for retirement, dreams of making the world a better place in which to live and love, and ideas for opening up new opportunities and possibilities to ponder along the way.....I cling to hope as my lesson well learned. 

NEVER GIVE UP;
NEVER GIVE IN......!

Hope is fragile. Hope can be very personal. There is always Hope! It can help bring communities and even great nations together once again. This is, precisely, my hope as I write this today. And, as my mid-life dream involves a good, healthy life for my husband and me, my children and their children, my compassion for others and satisfaction for a life well lived revolves around the Hope of even Greater Things to come, as individuals and as a nation. Fingers crossed!

Copyright © 2017 by Jacqueline E. Hughes

All rights reserved

AGING WITH GRACE: Praise For Strong, Loving Women

A series of essays.....

MY AUNT JUNE: "A COLLECTION OF WARM SMILES
SPRINKLED WITH A WRY SENSE OF HUMOR"

.....as seen through my eyes! 




By: Jacqueline E. Hughes


Yes, I continue to age each day and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it! Coming to terms with the fact that aging is inevitable, eases the negativity behind it.....to a certain degree.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to love yourself, too! I mean, what's the point of living day-in and day-out with somebody you don't have the utmost respect for....? Yourself. After all, I spend most of my time with, well, me....especially as a writer when I find myself traversing the intricate corridors of my brain nearly twenty-four/seven. I figure I had better be there for me, over anyone else I can think of.

The funny part is, especially as I age and learn more about myself, I pray that I will have no regrets. I have been told that my personality can come-off being a bit strong and too boisterous at times thus appearing to intimidate those around me. Growing older (or, as I refer to it, finally growing-up), I know the simple truth is that my passion seeps out in great, hot waves that crash onto the projected rocks having sharp, jagged edges that can harm the sensibilities of those within my circle. My ideas, stories, and intimate connection with the imagination that feeds me on a daily basis, sensationalizes the ordinary, and highlights the mundane, can be stronger than I could ever estimate. It is what defines me as a person.

Peering out from my often lonely, internal existence, I find comfort in a world splashed in vibrant colors, draped in miles of attractive fabrics, and scented with the perfume of a thousand exotic flowers! It is a good place to be. Sipping my steaming mug of green tea with honey and lemon, I quietly slip back into my surreal existence,
eventually!

I firmly believe that, as we age, we become more aware of those aging gracefully around us: a spouse, friends, immediate family members, and even public figures. And, as with many strong women, we seek-out other strong women with personalities that captivate us with their tenderness and loving attitudes towards life in general. It is an extreme pleasure to be able to acknowledge women around my own age that inspire me every single day. I would like to point a few of them out to you.

Allow me to introduce my adorable, Aunt June. Ninety-two years ago the earth was blessed by her arrival. Being the second born and having three male siblings, my father being her older brother, I can totally identify with many trials and tribulations she may have encountered given this identical birth order myself. Aunt June is the 'purple salad'  greatly anticipated and eagerly consumed every family reunion in August. She is a collection of warm smiles sprinkled with a wry sense of humor that often offsets her petite yet classic and well groomed stature. She is a fireball of energy and excitement who is always 'up' on current events and undeniably opinionated in her own right.

We totally lost touched as I grew older, married, and started a family of my own. Several years ago, not long after the birth of our first grandchild, Brenna, Aunt June and I were reconnected here in Florida when she and Uncle Louis rented a property during the winter months in Winter Haven. It was the best reunion of my life as it was peppered, once again, with her smiles and feisty humor.

Since the passing of Uncle Louis five years ago, she lives in her home located in South Bend, Indiana and we see one another as often as we can. Otherwise, Aunt June and I have become 'phone buddies' and have been known to ignore the passing of time for hours on end. She has become a best friend, surrogate mom, and a human sounding board by whom I channel my good and bad days as they are then deciphered and categorized by their relative importance. I admire this lady with all my being and often tell her that when I grow-up......I want to be just like her! Aging gracefully is her power and she's been blessed with the strength to endure just about any scenario placed before her.

Yes....I'm With Her!! How could I not be? Hillary Clinton, if you haven't noticed by now, is in the news quite a bit lately as she makes her run for President of the United States. I have reason to believe that the battle brewing between her and Bernie Sanders right now can be classified as 'mild' compared to the knock-down, drag-out fight she will soon encounter with the New York real estate mogul.

I do not feel the least bit sorry for him.

Hillary is a strong, brilliant woman who has had to endure one drama after another in her life of both a personal and public (political) nature and survived, if not made stronger and better prepared, as she emerged on the other side. Facing a male dominant world filled with its 'good 'ole boys' status hell-bent (even in 2016) on not accepting all human beings as equals, she consistently handles herself with decorum coupled with expert knowledge regarding ways to continue the progressive movement of this country and its citizens. As a mother, grandmother, and stubborn woman myself, I praise her tenacity and will always believe that she is highly qualified and sensitized towards the direct needs of all men, women, and children, with no exceptions.

No Presidential election should ever be based upon the physical traits of anyone. If that were the case, I wonder how many of our past male presidents would ever be elected today. Hillary Clinton ages gracefully right before us as she displays the charm of a loving woman who understands the value of wrapping her arms around us, helping the pain subside, and then applying a feasible solution in order to make us better and stronger. Hillary Clinton makes me proud to be a woman. Simple as that. She makes me proud to pass her female legacy down to my own daughters and granddaughters. She is setting a precedent for strong, little girls who desire to embrace their future head-on.

I could go on indefinitely mentioning female mentors, leaders, and artists who have changed the world through their powerful influence and talent: Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Sanger (opened the first family planning clinic in the United States), Virginia Woolf (author), Marie Curie (scientist), Sheryl Sandberg (author and COO of Facebook), Hillary Clinton, Marie Bracquemond (Impressionist artist), and Gloria Steinem, just to name a few.

Nurturing and being compassionate....that is what we do best as women. That is where we excel. We seem to always get things done. Whether we are mothers, teachers, doctors, or friends that genuinely care about one another, women are strong role models for others. And, as we age, we value more and more the inspiration of other women in our lives and use this strength to move forward into the realm of equalization with our male counterparts.

My personal goal, when it comes to aging with dignity and grace, has always been with regard to how well I have raised my own daughters. I am blessed with two strong, loving, and nurturing ladies who are generously passing these traits down to their own children every day.

Concentrating on the spiritual influences in my life these days, I open my heart and my arms to the power and grace of Love. You may have already noticed this recurring theme throughout my writing and with good reason. Strength, Love, and the Power to Forgive will guide each of us, man or woman, down the right path to aging....with dignity and grace.



Copyright © 2016 by Jacqueline E. Hughes
All rights reserved