Thank you for the painful truth about hope

Dear Joe,

Thanks very much for writing "The Sucker Bait Called Hope." I just finished reading it this Thanksgiving Day morning.

Several times I wanted to stop reading. I wanted to go find an article on Obama's new cabinet appointments or go pour another cup of coffee and put more wood in the stove, anything but read more of the painful truth. And, of course, what you wrote is the truth.

I'm glad I finished reading the essay. Yes, yes. Vote for the spirit. It's an affirmation I needed right now.

I volunteer at one of our state prisons, facilitating small groups on emotional awareness. The men learn about how our thinking and emotions and experiences shape our present perceptions and how one can find truth and peace and rediscover compassion and love through an inner journey to our true selves. Most of them are younger than my own son. The only difference between the men and me is that I was lucky to have a much better childhood and to get fairly well educated growing up. All I can offer them is some pointers along a path in the 12 times we meet. No matter how long I've been doing this, their situations never fail to break my heart and witnessing their essential goodness never fails to mend it. Doing this helps keep me sane. No need for the can of Drano yet.

So what? I know that it's not even a tiny blip on some remote radar screen. But it's what I can do. And it might help heal a life or two. And that's got to be OK.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Susan
Massachusetts