(Post by MOLLY MCCLELLAND)

In this, my first post of the New Year for this remarkable publication A Hopeful Sign, I want to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this inspiring community. It has forced me to check in on myself on a regular basis, which is important for me because I’m guilty of not doing this as often as is needed.

What’s so great about A Hopeful Sign is the simplicity of its mission: To spread hope…by living-learning-leading. It’s only right to acknowledge this tremendous and meaningful opportunity by spending this time reflecting on the role of hope in my life.

In watching my son, I have come to believe that hope is born in us. I also realize that as his mother, I am responsible for modeling hope for him; so that the hope he was born with is honored and protected until he can be responsible for shepherding hope in himself and his own actions.

At thirty-five, I can also see that life has much that seeks to steal hope away. The innocence of our birth is quickly under siege by life’s often harsh realities. Life is certainly not all rainbows and daydreams. I hate that.

That being said, I think that it is entirely possible to battle for hope against avengers that are just based on negativity, not in life’s reality. I’m realizing that for me, much of what takes away hope is manageable and capable of defeat; it just requires me to commit to living life positively, staunchly refusing to get caught up in an increasingly negative world that has clearly lost its collective mind.

I see hope as the great unifier; it’s the communion of all people. When humankind rallies around hope, there is no greater power for influencing change. Hope is the catalyst, but it is only the beginning–the call to action. If we do not act on hope, hope fades away. To act is the challenge.

For me, it is not enough to merely have hope. Hope alone does not get me closer to my dreams, though it does keep me believing in their possibility. Hope alone never completed a PhD or wrote a bestseller.  It’s like praying to win the lottery and never buying a ticket–can’t happen

I do believe that no venture of mine can begin without the blessing of hope, a blessing that casts the light of positivity and promise that I will live out my dreams. It is now up to me to put hope into action, or waste time and opportunities waiting to win a lottery I forgot to play.

Molly McClelland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Molly is a writer, humorist, working mother, and the creator of a new blog called momsaidwhat. As a first-time, new mom to Jeffrey John II, Molly is using the power of words and laughter to help find a balance between her family and her ambition. Fingers crossed. 

Check out her blog  http://momsaidwhat.com or Twitter: @mommamcclelland