Christmas Eve is all about hope.
In the spirit of Christmas, I decided to ask a few friends a simple question: "Where do you look for hope?"
On my own, answering the question took some thinking. After some time to consider, I realized the place I recognize hope the most is in the cracks and crevices of steps, sidewalks and life in general.
When I see a flower blooming in a sidewalk chink or a plant eking its way through a small slit between steps, I see hope. What are the chances that little zinnia shows up right there? How does that plant just keep returning between my backstoop steps?
Life finds a way — and sometimes the reminder is a beautiful thing.
Baton Rouge's beloved Smiley Anders said, "I find hope by looking around at the people I love and who love me, and knowing how extremely lucky I've been to have them in my life. I know I'm near the end of my days, but I feel I'm leaving behind some extraordinary folks who have made careers out of helping others. Also, my job has put me in touch with some memorable people; witty, kind, compassionate. I've never met most of them, but they've been a source of inspiration that's kept me going all these years."
LSU's Kim Mulkey said she doesn't find hope in just one thing.
"Hope comes from lots of places and experiences. Hope comes from the Bible and what one believes," Mulkey said. "Hope happens just unexpectedly. Hope also surprises us."
Madeline Ellis, founder of Mimosa, said, "Looking back at all the times I was proven wrong when I thought I couldn't keep going or things wouldn't get better, but I did, and things did. In other people, stories of rock bottoms and tragedy that they survived and rose from. In this moment, right now, I can't know how to solve all the world's problems or my little corner of it, but I can do something at this moment to inch me toward better, and that feels like hope in action for me."
My friend Yvonne Diaz, of Baton Rouge, said, "For me, it is an internal locus of control. I have to choose to be hopeful — so that I can commit to work indefatigably to find a solution and optimize outcomes."
Cathi Pavy, in Lafayette, said, "The best place to find hope is to share hope. It could be by giving a homeless man $5 or lifting someone up in prayer. It could be sharing a belly laugh with a friend, telling your child, 'Everything will be OK,' or your mom, 'I've got you.' I think when you live in hope and share hope with others, hope finds you."
Lisa Tompkins, of New Orleans, said, "I find hope in unexpected moments of kindness — when I see a stranger offer someone a ride who is at a bus stop with bags of groceries; when someone gives me a look that says, 'I've been where you are' when I am sad; when someone invites an elderly person sitting along to join their family for dinner."
Matt Jones, of Baton Rouge, said, "Songs. 'Annie' is my favorite. 'The sun will come out tomorrow...' Yes, I know how corny that is. It works for me. Also, 'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash, 'I'm Gonna Be Somebody' by Travis Tritt, and, of course, 'Three Little Birds,' by Bob Marley."
Jones said he also finds hope in movies and books, especially "The Lord of the Rings."
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote: "A day may come when the courage of men fails. When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day."
He also says that perspective helps with hope. "If I start running while comparing myself to Olympic sprinters, it's going to look pretty hopeless. Stop trying to be a Kardashian. Start trying to be the best you."
Laura Vinsant Songy said she finds hope in the glimmers she sees in classrooms. Songy is the executive director of Teach for America South Louisiana in Baton Rouge.
"Twice this year, I've seen a child read for the very first time. Those lightbulb moments will never stop providing hope," she said.
Adele Netterfield, also of Baton Rouge, said she finds hope in nature.
"Even when I am knee-deep in dirt, sore and dirty, I have hope that things will get better in time. Then there are seasons when life is more peaceful, and I enjoy the blooms. Each season has signs of hope" Netterfield said. "Winter in the South has our beautiful camellias."
Jeannie DelGreco in Lafayette said she finds hope in the process of Alcoholics Anonymous.
"Watching broken alcoholics show up and put principles and steps in place and then find a higher power, then witness the miracle of impossible situations and relationships being restored — over and over and over," she said. "For 30 years now as of Nov. 5."
My friend Doug Gruse, who works at a university in New York, said he finds hope in Generation Z.
"Although on the surface, technology seems to be the core of their existence, in general, I think they are more in touch with their emotions and more empathetic to others. They care about the planet and tend to think globally. I'm hopeful for the future they will lead."
Artist Kelli Kaufman says countering the heaviness of the world with the beauty of creating helps her find hope.
"Creating a meal, creating an arrangement of flowers, creating a playlist to listen to while creating a piece of art makes me happy," she said.
Lisa Cross in Monroe said she finds hope in ordinary people.
"Even those with opposite political views who espouse heinous political opinions would do anything to help someone if help was needed," Cross said. "That's been my experience. One on one, people are generally good."
Miriam Tiritilli, of Baton Rouge, said she finds hope by zooming out.
"Considering how small we are. We are just a teensy part of this beautiful marble," she said. " What we have here is fleeting and that helps me with being present to savor the wonders that are around us."
Paul Boudreaux in Lafayette says he finds hope in being vulnerable.
"I have to be willing to be open enough to see it in life's moments and/or challenges, both big and small," he said.
On this day, may you find the hope you need to keep working toward making the world a kinder, gentler, better and more beautiful place.