Hope

After discussing uncertainty during last session, let's kick off the new year with some of the places our human brains can go in the face of uncertainty: together, let's explore the topic of Hope.

Here are a few prompts to get started with the conversation:

• How are hope, desire and belief (religious or otherwise) interconnected?
• Is hope necessary for survival?
• How can hope be a source of liveliness or a cause for despair?
• Can hopefulness be rational in the face of uncertainty?

🌮 More food for thought

• "We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
• "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson
• "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger - something better, pushing right back." - Albert Camus
• "God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illumined by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason." - Dag Hammarskjöld

If you've never participated before, here's what to expect:

• 2 hours of deep, interesting conversations in a respectful environment that will elevate your spirit and give you new ideas for life, work or relationships
• a supportive group of people sharing their own unique experiences and viewpoints, and encouraging you to do the same
• a rich mix of newcomers and regulars from different countries and cultures for a broad diversity of opinions and experiences

Please remember the existing rules of this group:

• DO express your ideas clearly, calmly and concisely
• DO listen actively
• DO approach the conversation with an open mind and be willing to hear different perspectives
• DO make yourself fully present. DON'T pull out your phone during the conversation

🚫 No-show policy
As the group size is small, no-shows have a strong negative impact on the group. As such, the policy is that as a general rule, no-shows and same-day cancellations will not be able to sign up for future events. To avoid this:

• Only reserve a spot if you really intend to come.
• If your plans have changed, cancel at least 24 hours before the event, to give people on the waiting list a chance to change their own plans and make it to the event.
• If you have a real last-minute emergency and need to cancel in the last 24 hours, please contact me directly to avoid "no-show" status.