As children we are naturally playful, it's how we learn about the world ourselves and one another. Curiosity, imagination and creativity drive these interactions and experiences, and we are more apt to live in the present when playing as kids. In the transition from childhood to adulthood a lot of adults lose connection with the playful parts of themselves that seem to come so naturally to them as kids. Adult responsibilities and systems usually take over, and play is something that is not prioritized in many adults and therefore is left behind.
How do you define the word “hope?” Do you define it as wishful thinking or some ethereal ideal that sounds nice, but feels unachievable? The American Psychological Association (APA) defines hope as “the expectation that one will have positive experiences or that a potentially threatening or negative situation will not materialize or will ultimately result in a favorable state of affairs” (www.psychologytoday.com). Notice that the APA acknowledges that threatening and negative situations exist as do the possibility (or hope) that these situations can become better. I would like to suggest that this could be called “informed hope” versus “blind hope.” We can have informed hope which recognizes the troubles that threaten our world while still holding onto the belief that change is possible.