Prisoner of Hope

"Hope and optimism are different. Optimism tends to be based on the notion that there's enough evidence out there to believe things are gonna be better, much more rational, deeply secular, whereas hope looks at the evidence and says, "It doesn't look good at all. Doesn't look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds, no guarantee whatsoever." That's hope. I'm a prisoner of hope, though. Gonna die a prisoner of hope."

— Cornel West

I love this phrase by Dr. West...being a prisoner of hope. The past few days I have been reflecting on certain people and relationships and situations in my life and trying to figure out why I just can't seem to let go or give up. All things logical and reasonable tell me to...to just let go and walk away. Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself because I want so badly to do just that...but something inside won't let me take those steps. Then I read this phrase and immediately I understood why. For better or for worse, I'm a prisoner of hope. Hope that these people, relationships, and situations can and will change holds me inexorably captive. Despite what logic, reason, and caring friends tell me, hope just won't let me go. I haven't decided yet if this is a good thing or a bad thing...but I do know that I have not figured out yet how to escape it. And even though it brings me pain at times, I don't think I want to.