Hope

Hope is not necessary to life or to human existence. Hope is like a diamond (no pun meant) in that it is something pretty but it is a luxury, it holds an implied value over a practical value. It (diamond) looks pretty but it is still just a piece of rock. I believe understanding and appreciating the way things are as they are presented is more valuable than hope. That also keeps us from being complacent or expecting a situation to resolve itself and makes us more industrious in finding solutions to our problems, so hope should take it's rightful place behind the failure of all else. Our greatest gift is to allow ourselves appreciation of our days. When you were born, you had more or less the promise of one day. One day to take in all of the colors and sounds and tastes and emotions. Everything after that however...all of your days thereafter are not promised. So you should savor them and appreciate them in the present. This doesn't necessarily mean you should run off and climb the highest mountain, become the worlds leading whatever, or bury your head in study to solve the great riddle...unless you want to. It means when you take a good deep breath, or you eat a good meal (or even a can of stewed tomatoes or a can of tuna), or someone says they love you or you feel love for someone else....appreciate it, you won't always have that. My grandmother used to say, "Nothing is forever. Not love, not pain, not anger, not joy. You aren't promised tomorrow." It was her mantra and it stuck with me. Life being temporary puts a higher premium on it.