Hope Box

The Hope Box was a gift to Herberth and me from my mom for Christmas. I cried when I read what she wrote. Whether you are looking forward to Obama being president or not, I do HOPE that you will use these ideas in your own life. We can certainly all be better people than we are and help make other people’s lives better too.

Box: Small, round, says HOPE on the outside.
Contents: Acorns. Small, decorative bird in its nest. Small candle and glass candle jar. Jar says “Hope”.

Open the Hope Box and read the scroll attached to the lid. It says the following:
Keeping Hope Alive…
I experienced HOPE on the evening of November 4, 2008. I vow to never let myself forget the feeling of HOPE that welled up in my heart as Barack Obama boldly delivered his powerful message of HOPE to the world. I vow to never let myself forget the look of HOPE on the faces of thousands who visibly revealed their HOPE. I vow to Keep Hope Alive.

How do we Keep Hope Alive? I don’t know but I have some thoughts:
- Be the voice for HOPE
- Pass HOPE along
- Act HOPEFUL
- Inspire your HOPE with your dreams

This box is an invitation to Keep Hope Alive. The acorns in the box are for strength to be hopeful when it feels impossible. The bird is a reminder of the feeling of freedom that hope brings. The candle, when lit, shows that you are hopeful.

My calendar of suggested actions to Keep Hope Alive:

Jan. Inspire yourself – create or add to your personal dream list. Pick some to do.
Feb. Pass hope on to another with an unexpected act of kindness; secretly shovel someone’s walk or brush off their snowy car windows, carry groceries to someone’s car.
March Barack Obama Volunteer to do at least one thing to keep his hope alive.
April Ask someone for their support: maybe you need support in a volunteer endeavor or you just need a helping hand.
May Help someone who needs it.
June Drop flowers off at someone’s front door or office door with a message of hope.
July Encourage someone to realize one of their dreams.
August Help someone who needs it.
Sept. Choose to keep your conversations hopeful when talking with others.
Oct. Take your business to a store whose owner donates to a non-profit you care about and let them know you appreciate their support.
Nov. Feed someone who needs food.
Dec. Give the gift of hope – Tell someone in your life that you are proud of them.
Love, Mom

What I’ve done in January to Keep Hope Alive:
Diego, Andre and I created our 2009 Dream Lists. I signed Diego up for swimming lessons (one of his Dreams), we have started teaching Andre to use the potty (one of his Dreams), I started picking out new colors to paint our kitchen and living room (one of my Dreams).

What are you going to do to Keep Hope Alive?
1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________