High Hopes

I hope that you have failed at something

I hope that you have had your heart broken

I hope that you have been disappointed

I hope someone let you down

I hope that you really wanted something, but didn't get it

I hope that you've been selfish a few times

I hope that you've embarrassed yourself

I hope you've stereotyped someone

I hope that you have cursed someone

I hope you've worried needlessly

I hope that you have failed to pass a test.

Because that means that you have succeeded and you have fallen in love.  

It means that you've experienced satisfaction and that someone didn't let you down.

It means that you received something wonderful that you didn't expect.

Because you've been generous many times.  And you've been proud of yourself.

And you've given someone the benefit of the doubt.  You have forgiven someone.

Because you've relaxed and had a good time.  That means that you've done better than you

expected to.

But what I hope for the most is that each of us realize that our lives are little more than a series of checks and balances and I hope that each of us understands that we can always tip the scales either negatively or positively. Since it is likely that we have all experienced some or all of the above "goods and bads" and probably many more, then it is just as likely that we've "lived and learned" a little bit.  Perhaps we're skipping some of the negative aspects of ourselves (and others) and moving instinctively toward positive ones more often.  Maybe we're already surpassing that idea and we're now reaching out to help each other be better people, more often.

I believe that we'll always live with the ups and downs, the good and the bad, the light and the dark, because we are all part of the natural balances of the world, society, the Earth and sky, the stars and galaxies.  It fosters learning.  But if we live our lives aware of ourselves and we endeavor to lean more to our positive sides, in time, we may see the center of balance shift.  I have high hopes, but it's really up to us, isn't it?