Something to do, someone to love and something to hope for.

Alexander Chalmers lived from 1759 to 1834 and was educated as a doctor but left the profession to become a journalist. He wrote extensively and the above statement is attributed to him.

We all could point fingers and make additions or subtractions to this statement but in the most general sense, this statement is pretty correct. Yes, it would be good if it had a little gospel in it but for the most part, it is accurate.

Let’s break it down. Something to do, means some meaningful work or volunteer effort that engages our minds in a purpose. Someone to love, means having people in your life that you love, cherish, want and need to spend time with. We all need people in our life that we can trust and that love us back. Something to hope for, means we need something to look forward to in our life and it is that hope that is essential for the enjoyment of life. People who commit suicide have usually lost hope in their life.

In my personal opinion, Hope for the future is one of the most important emotions we will ever have or ever experience. Hope is the will inside of us to see a future and to have the expectation, desire and plans for that future. It is what drives you to get through today and look forward to tomorrow. I know that sounded a little churchy but I want to say it again. Hope is the will inside of us to see a future and to have the expectation, desire and plans for that future. It is what drives you to get through today and look forward to tomorrow.

So the advice is to always have something to do that interests you, someone to love who needs you and something to hope for that moves you. KT