The Future is in our Mouths

My Substack is filled with messages of despair: the U.S. has bombed Iran, Israel and Palestine continue their three years of war, Russia and the Ukraine send drones back and forth, while their people dig new trenches in the scars of previous trenches and previous wars that scatter the landscape of Europe.

Where is Hope in this moment?

I wonder about Hope as the flowers fall off of the fully bloomed tree in these early days of summer. My running shoe presses the petals of these sweet flowers further into the concrete. Squishing them flatter, wasting their beauty. Rather than scoop up these precious tokens of summer, I stamp them down as if they are insignificant as I run by.

It is also summer in Iran, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, and Russia. Do their trees bloom in the face of destruction? Does life continue to fight its own battle against the destruction we unleash upon each other? Does Nature dare to Hope?

In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer asks the reader to offer their Joy as a tribute of Thanksgiving to the earth for all the earth and Nature have offered us.

I can’t find Joy. I turn instead to Hope. Hope is the work of Joy.

This is not the same kind of Hope that we draw on for good luck. It is not, “I hope it rains,” or “I hope I get this job,” or “I hope I win the Lottery.” This is the Hope that tells me to rewrite the lesson plan to better reach my students. It is the Hope that sits with me as I plan the way my classroom looks. I hope my students will learn more with this lesson plan, and so I work. I hope my students walk into my classroom and feel loved, and so I work to bring love there.

Ocean Vuong says, “The future is in our mouths,” which is a phrase I have been turning over in my mind. It has even come to me in my dreams (For reals, I am not even joking). When I speak, I create a reality. My words bring forth the event or ideas I have in my mind. My mouth - and yours- are creating futures every time we speak. A harsh word spoken over breakfast becomes a bad day. A gentle kiss at night becomes a good night’s sleep. We create our world, and the worlds of those around us with our words. It is breathtaking to realize we have so much power.

Trump’s words end lives and nations. Some of us have more powerful words than others.

Our children hope for their futures. Children in places all over the world are born into hope. They look toward their parents, teachers, and leaders for the ways they can shape their futures.

The Future is in our mouths.

What are we saying?

Comments

Five Fab Days in Florida - Tampa

Let me preface this post/trip with this disclaimer: We are not Florida people. (Nothing against Florida people. I know some Florida people and I love them. I just have a complicated relationship with Florida). We are, however, Scottish people. When we learned the Scots would be in Florida this spring, we made the decision to go to Florida. I had never been, and Nic had not been for years and years. So, another adventure was in store for us. Nic and I awoke early (WAY early) on Wednesday morning to catch a flight to Tampa, where we planned to meet up with our Scottish family for five fab days of Florida. Things at work have been hard for both of us, so we came to this holiday so ready to relax, and very thankful that Paddy is an excellent trip planner. We travelled from Tampa to Kissimmee, where their daughter was playing tennis. Our afternoon was spent lying by the pool, soaking up the sun, and quickly catching up. We planned to pop down to Cocoa Beach to see the launches. Paddy h...

The Blind Leading the Blind Tour ~ June 2026 ~ Coming Soon

Who : This gang (minus my dad, who has informed us he is never leaving the country again). Only my sister does not have r etinitis pigmentosa , and my dad, who is not going. Not to disparage my in-laws, Jennie, Sharon, Scott, Mae, and my husband, Nic, are all coming, too. They can all see, too. It just sounds more dramatic to tell you the blind people are going. It seems anti-climatic to include people who can see. Still, the blind are almost the majority. When : June 2026 Where : Paris, France Why : Because we have to go while we can still see. This is the first official post of The Blind Leading the Blind Tour because although we have been dreaming about this, WE ARE OFFICIALLY GOING. Consider this the official announcement of The Blind Leading The Blind Tour. Included in this trip are seven full days with this cast of characters (minus Dad) and their better halves. Nic and I will have a Side Quest. Each of my siblings will have their own side quests, bu...

2026 ~ Word of the Year

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” –Desmond Tutu In my annual tradition of choosing a word for the year, I found myself this morning reflecting on last year's word: Well . Unfortunately, last year (yesterday and the 364 yesterdays before that) was a bit of a train wreck. In a brief review and update of some of the goals and ambitions I put forth last January: We did not go to Vietnam or Alaska. Neither of those were real goals, more manifestations for the future. We did focus on the house. We updated my office, installed new HVAC for the house, painted the living room, and we are in the process of redoing the downstairs bathroom to practice for the upstairs bathroom. When I say, 'we,' I mean Nic. I have stood by and nodded throughout these projects and consulted on colors. Nic has done all of the work. I worked hard on getting back to running my usual mileage. I improved my overall health. I am proud of the work I have done physicall...

Bubble an' Squeak

Search This Blog