CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: Fear is the enemy of hope

The morning’s disparate sights and sounds reach out to me. A hawk’s cry. Sunshine through thick fog. Hammering echoes from somewhere down-canyon. A baby cries. School bus brakes squeal amid the shouts of the children greeting each other on this new day. Dampness drips off the skylight in lazy trails of moisture. A hummingbird mingles with bees in the blossoms of a tree just outside my window. I ponder the day ahead and those recently passed.

“There is nothing to fear but fear itself.” These words so often quoted are those of Franklin D. Roosevelt, our 32nd president. The more complete quote is, “So let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” Even when we can name the fear that is paralyzing us, even when it seems justified, the fear itself is to be vanquished.

It has been a mere two months since I listened to an economist whose name I have long since forgotten speak on the state of our economy. The gist of his message was that if we were to let fear take over, we were sunk; we would be in terrible trouble. Even then, he said, we could still pull up, but that fear was definitely the big enemy — the key to an economic downturn. Over the intervening time I have thought again and again of his words and how little control we have over fear once it begins its feeding frenzy.

Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher, said that if we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living. Certainly, losing things — and isn’t that ultimately what our fears in this economic downturn are all about — would not qualify as the worst imaginable life occurrence. To lose possessions is difficult, trying, humbling — all these and more, for sure. Still, each day is filled with so many joys, so much beauty, and more. Life is still so worth living.

It worries me to see those around me in despair, hands held tight in their pockets, focused only on the negative when there is so much of life all around us. There are so many exquisite moments to enjoy with friends, family and even strangers. There is so much to which we can open ourselves.

Call me a Pollyanna if you will. This stereotype of a young girl with infectious optimism does not insult me at all. If my optimistic belief, my hopefulness, my own joy in life extends to just one other person in the world, I can be glad. There are too many easy negatives to grab on to as it is. For myself, I prefer to turn to the wisdom of those who have gone before me, such as Seneca or the more recent FDR. I prefer to believe in human creativity and endeavor to pull us out of bad times.

I certainly hope none of us loses our home or our job. And if this should come to pass, I hope that each of us still has good health, good friends and a supportive family to help us through, for these are truly far more valuable in the end. Life will still be oh-so-worth living, perhaps even more so.

On this weekday morning, amid the clatter of trash cans and the softer sound of heavy fog dripping on the rooftop, I remind myself of the things that I love — the people I care for and who care about me. These are what really matters. Ever hopeful, I await the arrival of the sun just as I await better economic times. Until then, I cherish this moment and am thankful I can. I hope you can, too.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (949) 251-3883.