If You Have Hope, You Have Everything

The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.

Marion Zimmer Bradley

In light of the above quotation, I would like to tell you a story of an old woman in my town. She was probably around 60 years old, but the age was barely a number for her. Her energy to accomplish the task and vision for life is no less than young blood, enthusiastic person.

I first found her in the civil court of my area, carrying a bunch of documents in one hand, and the other hand was covered with a big cloth (also known as a shawl). She bowed her head in front of the lawyer and asked them for taking her lawsuit.

But the lawyer refused to take it, probably thinking she might be unable to pay the heavy fees.

I often saw her coming to the court with hope but every time she had to return with disappointment on her wrinkled face. After seeing her in this condition, I was about to ask her about her problems but she didn’t appear for several days.

After a few months, I went to the market to purchase some household things and I got surprised. I saw one old woman selling vegetables on the street with the same appearance as I saw in the court.

That time I did not want to miss this chance to know about her. I reached out to her and asked for the vegetable’s price at first and then purchased from her.

After a few minutes,

I asked her- “Why are you selling Vegetables on the streets at such an old age?”

She didn’t reply to me and I just left her alone. I asked another vendor about her.

Another vendor said, “She is an aggressive woman, always seems a freak, don’t purchase anything from her”.

However, I didn’t agree with him. I again turned to her and after so many tries she finally answered my questions.

She replied in a very generous way,- “This is the only way left to make me and my grandson survive.”

Surprisingly after a bit of talk, she called me to her house. So, I went to her house and she welcomed me with heartiness, offered me tea, and gave me some snacks.

I was overwhelmed by her loving nature and she also reminded me of my grandmother. After a while, I asked her about the cloth she wears in one hand. In answer to my question, she removed the cloth from her hand.

She was one-handed.

She Narrated ‘A Story Of Hope’

The old woman shared the story – I lost one hand two years ago in a car accident. I know what you want to know from me.

She then narrated the story behind her becoming the street vendor.

She told me – I lost my husband after 2 years of our marriage, and at that time Ajay (changed name), my son was only 5 months. Everyone insisted I should marry someone and live the rest of my life happily. But I decided to live with my hope “Ajay” and would devote my whole life to his better future.

I asked– So, why didn’t you get remarried, might you could have a better life by now.

She half-smiled.

And said – I loved Ajay’s father very much, and before marriage, we took a pledge to spend our whole life together. Now he is no more but he left his soul and my hope in the name of Ajay.

I got so emotional that time. I just wanted to know what happened after that.

Out of curiosity, I asked – So, where’s Ajay now?

She got emotional.

She replied- I lost him and her wife in a car accident. We were returning home, it was dense Fogg outside, visibility was extremely low and the taxi on which we were coming crashed with the truck and Ajay and his wife died at the moment and I lost my one hand.

She paused for a while there.

And then said– But for God’s sake, my grandson which was on my lap that time was somehow made out alive.

She continued narrating – Since then, I have continuously reached the court so that I can get the insurance claim and can provide my grandson a good life. He is my new hope for life. I am selling vegetables for our bread butter. I know you also assumed that I’m mad and violent. But I am only hoping for a good life for my grandson because Ajay will never come again but he left his son as a new hope for me.

I asked – why do you always trust much in hope? it can be a lie.

And she gave me the new vision to live a life in her answer.

She replied – Hope gives me power, it makes me optimistic, it helps me in forgetting the past, it always uplifts my motivation, that is the reason I always rely on hope. Hope is everything for me.

It is the reward of hope that someone came to me and asked about my situation and now he is a good friend of mine. We both smile facing each other. there was something strange at that moment. I left for my home after that.

Why Hope Is Important in life?

After meeting her my vision for life changed, I found that secret & mysterious energy in the word ‘hope‘. Sometimes all you have is hope when you lost everything. It is the thing that keeps you alive and encourages you to fight back.

Helps us in becoming optimistic

Hope is a soft burning flame that is unable to be extinguished and capable of enduring any condition. Hope helps us to stay positive and helps us in tackling the situations.

Helps us in remain motivated

“Only in the darkness, you can see the stars”- Martin Luther King. It helps us in managing stress, and anxiety and copes with hardship. It bestows our happiness and well-being. Hope helps in setting high-quality goals and accomplishing them.

Helps in forgetting our past

It is the result of hope that the old lady is still so strong, that she is managing all ups and downs in her life. Hope helps you in focusing on the main goal rather than crying about the situation. By hope, you can focus on your priorities and let things off making you down.

Helps in lessening the feeling of helplessness

Whenever we need support and no one is there to encourage us, that time Hope gives us the energy to reduce mental pressure and stay calm. Because whoever has no one, has a God. That time despite feeling anxious, stay calm and let give things to God.

Hope has the possibility of something better

When one door is closed, another door is opened at the same time. There is nothing permanent in life, even bad times also. Always draw hope and say to yourself “Everything will be alright”.

I found some positivity in hope, I know everyone has a different aspect to look at the situation. Nevertheless, as the old lady makes her way despite all the atrocities. We should also set our priorities, and pay attention to the present moments and also what God offers us. It makes us so strong that we can continue our journey despite all challenges and failures.

I have started hoping for a good and better future, and also hoping that you like the story and may positivity comes into your life. I HOPE.

Peace

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Edited by- Ritish

Art Work by – Ridhi

Our Mailing Address – Namaskar@theblogera.com

Wants to unfold more real stories of hopes? Check out the book Unfold the Stories of Unsung Heroes. The stories here are both real & inspiring. The book is meant to make us realize that there is so much potential in being alive that we just never tap into.

A highly recommended book.