The winter of despair...

    

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it as the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going straight to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way..."

These words of Charles Dickens written in 1859 about events that transpired in the late 1700's seem so timeless. The symbolic nature of this passage sparks controversy in its uncertainty of what is to come yet we must also see that Dickens doesn't give us the answer.  He doesn't tell us what the outcome will be nor does he, in this opening from A Tale Of Two Cities, define for us what path we should take.

When we follow the journey of the main character, Sydney Carton, one who was lost in self-abnegation, despair and incredulity, who saw nothing but immediate gratification to stem the flood of self abasement and lack of self worth, we ultimately find enlightenment as he finds purpose in his life.

We find through his journey that he, himself, begins to see, through the actions of others, dare I say the love of others, that there is worth to life. There is hope even in despair.  And that despair can turn into inspiration, love, self-worth and happiness.

Carton stopped thinking about himself and began to focus on the betterment of others even when it meant that he gave up the trappings of those things that he once thought defined him and made him the man that he was.  

He gave up so that others could have and by doing so he found self-worth.

In the end he made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love and that sacrifice changed the lives of countless people.

Are we living in a Dickensian novel?  Obviously not. But the story Dickens shares with us and the lessons we learn can be applied to our real world lives. 

We need only look at the other side of the coin.  Look at the what if's, and the possibilities, the hope, the people and make our choices based on the collective good of all concerned.  

And to my artist family, look at what you can do to impact the world with your art.  Look at the good that can come by lifting up those around you, by inspiring those that might feel lost, bringing a smile or laughter to someone who has had a rough go of it.

It truly is 'the season of light', 'the spring of hope' and we do 'have everything before of us.'

The world needs you.  The world needs your compassion, your vision and your care.

OUR destiny is waiting.

I invite you to join my free insiders access club.  Please click this link now and join me in my journey to make the world a better place.