David B. Seaburn

BELOW IS A Sample Psychology Today BLOG. 

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN HOPE SHOWS UP?

I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM MY FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP. IT WAS LATE MARCH. IN MANY AREAS OF THE COUNTRY I WOULD HAVE BEEN ENJOYING BUDDING TREES, DAFFODILS AND TULIPS ALONG THE WAY. BUT I LIVE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WHERE WINTER HOLDS ON FOR DEAR LIFE WELL INTO MARCH, SOMETIMES APRIL. I EVEN REMEMBER A DUSTING OF SNOW ON OUR LETTUCE IN MID-MAY. NEVERTHELESS, AS I DROVE ALONG, I WATCHED FOR SIGNS OF SPRING.            

I PASSED A HOUSE AND IN THE DRIVEWAY WAS A LITTLE BOY SITTING IN FRONT OF A TINY TABLE. HE HAD A WINTER COAT ON, HOOD OVER HIS HEAD PULLED TIGHT AT THE CHIN. HIS KNEES WERE CLENCHED TOGETHER FOR WARMTH. IN FRONT OF HIM ON THE TABLE WAS A PITCHER, CUPS BESIDE IT. THERE WAS A SIGN HANGING FROM THE TABLE THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. AS EACH CAR PASSED, HIS RAISED HIS GLOVED HAND SLIGHTLY AND TILTING IT BACK AND FORTH IN WHAT WAS BARELY A WAVE.            

I SMILED AS I DROVE BY. I THOUGHT, “NO ONE IS GOING TO STOP ON THIS BUSY ROAD TO BUY LEMONADE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT’S ALMOST FREEZING OUTSIDE.” SO I TURNED AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO THE STAND. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AS THE LITTLE BOY’S MOTHER CAME OUT TO TAKE PICTURES. I ASSUMED SHE WAS SHOCKED THAT ANYONE HAD STOPPED. THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY, ON THE OTHER HAND, DIDN’T SEEM SURPRISED AT ALL.            

ON THE TABLE WERE TWO PLASTIC CUPS ALREADY FILLED. HE WAS READY FOR BUSINESS. I ASKED IF HE MADE THE LEMONADE HIMSELF. HE SAID THAT HIS MOTHER HAD HELPED. I NOTED THAT THE LEMONADE COST A QUARTER; HE SHOOK HIS HEAD AND POINTED TO ONE OF THE CUPS AS IF TO SAY, “THAT ONE’S YOURS.” I PICKED IT UP AND TOOK A SIP AS A STIFF WIND SET ME BACK ON MY HEELS. “THIS IS VERY GOOD. MUCH BETTER THAN JUST TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.” I REACHED INTO MY POCKET AND GAVE HIM A DOLLAR. HE LEANED BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND SMILED FROM UNDER HIS HOOD AND SAID, “THANKS. YOU CAN KEEP THE CUP.”            

A LITTLE BOY ON A FREEZING COLD DAY SITTING BY THE SIDE OF A BUSY COUNTRY ROAD CONVINCED HE CAN SELL LEMONADE. I THINK THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF HOPE. AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS A SIGN OF HOPE ALONG THE WAY? FIRST YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION OR YOU MIGHT MISS IT; THEN YOU STOP, GO BACK, WELCOME IT, DRINK IT IN, AND SUPPORT IT HOWEVER YOU CAN.