Hope
Life isn’t a soap opera, as much as it might feel like one right now. So, file this under, “guiding light.”
As we wade through the troubled waters of this global pandemic, with schools and businesses closed, jobs furloughed or terminated and the feeling of despair in the air, for some people, a tiny light bulb went off – or make that 200 of them.
Twitter and Facebook are a glow with a call from many for the rest of us to re-hang (or just plug in) our Christmas lights as a sign of aspiration and cheer.
Parents might be especially eager to shed some light for their kids’ sake – and if ever there was a fun and safe activity that maintained the rules of social distancing while adding a glimmer of hope, this might just be it.
People everywhere on social media are taking up the cause of restringing the holiday lights in a heartfelt attempt to raise spirits and add a little light to the end of the tunnel.
Neighbors are helping neighbors feel a little less blue. Italians serenaded each other balcony to balcony. The Spanish offered rousing rounds of applause to health care workers. And Americans are putting a little holiday spring in their step with shimmering, beautiful lights.
One Milwaukee man’s tweet already has elicited nearly 1,800 likes and counting, along with many responses ranging from, “Actually a great idea, we could have a red, white and blue theme instead of Christmas,” to “Great idea! Something to do with the kids. Gives them some fun instead of dread and despair!” Many also joked that they had yet to take their Christmas lights down.
This isn’t the first time that Americans have sought a beacon hope on a literal level.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter lit only the crowning star atop the White House Christmas tree in honor of the Americans being held hostage in Iran.
The next year in 1980, the whole tree was fully lit for only 417 seconds; the rationale was that the tree was lit each second for every day the hostages had been in captivity.
Another social media trend right now is bear hunting – not real ones – but stuffed animals sitting on porches, in cars, on mailboxes and in windows to raise morale and delight children and adults alike.
The game is simple: If you spot a stuffed bear, post that image on Facebook or Instagram.
And while holiday light enthusiasts all over the country are saying, “Let there be light,” human bear hugs will have wait a while.
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