To be truly radical is to make hope possible, rather than despair convincing — Raymond Williams

Look beyond those daily news headlines and you will notice that not everyone is an ax-wielding maniac, although there are some that are. Not everyone is out to deceive you, although there are some that will.

But take a closer look and you will see that the vast majority of people on this planet all want the same things that you and I do, meaningful work, someone who believes in them, and hope.

But there’s a problem, can you see it?

When stress floods the mind we all have a tendency to make dumb mistakes. Those who make the worst, are usually the ones with the least amount of options. It’s always easier to be an upstanding citizen with $100 in your pocket than it is with an empty purse and kids to feed.

Nobody wakes up and asks, “How can I make my life hopeless today?” No, that circumstance is usually imposed on us by the men in suits — but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Look, I’ve had my fair share of troubles in this life and I’m sure you have had yours too. That ugly wheel of misfortune can be such an unpredictable part of life. I get it, bad things happen to good people all of the time and none of us are immune.