Need a little hope?

I did a lot of research to write "I'll Be Bec" and unsurprisingly, some of it was rather depressing. However, it did also open my eyes to a lot of wonderful stuff that is happening all over the world.

Here, I have linked to some of the sites, books and places which gave (and still give) me hope. May they provide you with the same solace and inspiration. Please feel free to add your own links in the comments.

A final note and little plug - I want to thank MOO for the business cards which have the link to this blog on them. I worked for MOO many years ago and they were the first company to make me feel better about the direction the world is heading. Their stock is sourced from sustainable forests (or made from recycled t-shirt offcuts) and the office itself aimed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Not to mention the care and support they have for their customers and staff. May this be a trend we see in all workplaces.

Bec x

Community

Finding a local community has slowly rebuilt my trust in society. Look around you. Who is doing what in your area? Can they help you? Can you help them? These are my favourite places and people near where I live. Perhaps these suggestions will help you find yours:

Camden Garden Centre

It has a brilliant, well-sourced cafe, and helps local youth find employment and training.

Urban Growth

Jobs in Mind provides individuals with severe and enduring mental health issues with horticultural training in an allotment near my flat.

St Luke's, Holloway

This was Rev Dave Tomlinson's parish (see "How to be a Bad Christian and a Better Human Being" below) until he retired recently. It's both modern and progressive (LGBTQ+ supportive and often refers to God as "Her" and "She"), but simple and not trying to be "cool". It doubles as a homeless shelter on the weekends in winter and is always welcoming. Plus the choir sounds like actual angels.

The Future Starts Here: V&A Exhibition

The Future Starts Here

This exhibition asks a lot of important questions, and certainly has its share of "doom and gloom" bits. But I came away feeling strangely inspired and excited. If it's no longer running by the time you read this, I strongly recommend you Google "Antanas Mockus". He was Mayor of Bogotá in the 90s and did all sorts of awesome stuff, including hiring mimes to make fun of traffic violators.

Positive.News

This website reports on all the GOOD things happening around the world. They also have a Twitter account, @positivenewsuk, which is worth following!

Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell

Kurzgesagt

– In a Nutshell

If you've ever found philosophical ideas, global isues, history, etc a little too much to handle and you wish you had your very own "Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy" to explain it with cute, simple animations, then THIS is the YouTube channel for you!

While some of the content can still be about scary future stuff, they often provide helpful and hopeful solutions at the end. The sheer volume of views on each video alone makes me feel better that others are also hearing these messages.

Dave Tomlinson

How To Be a Bad Christian ...and a Better Human Being

This wonderful take on Christianity by Reverend Dave Tomlinson is inclusive and inspiring in its humility. While it might not be for everyone, it's certainly worth a read if you need some spiritual hope, regardless of faith.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk

Ok, ok, so I know the guy isn't perfect. In fact, I know this because of this biography, written by Ashlee Vance. But I like how Musk used capitalism to make energy alternatives sexy. Plus I very much identify with this quote from his TED Talk: "I’m not trying to be anyone’s saviour. I’m just trying to think about the future and not be sad."

Mark Stevenson

Mark Stevenson

"An Optimist's Tour of the Future" (also available on Audible) and "We Do Things Differently" were exactly the books I needed to remind me that all hope for humanity is not lost.

This isn't Chicken Soup for the Soul. This is systematic change which will make the world a better place.

The best part is - many of these systems, techniques and inventions are already being adopted by companies, leaders and governments. Treat yourself to some hope!