I can’t go on. I'll go on.

Hello lovely NGS Community.?

I hope you are all well and having a beautiful weekend.?

Last Saturday evening I had the wonderful pleasure of joining Tim Winton in Conversation at the University of Newcastle. Hosted by the incredible Newcastle Writer’s Festival, Winton shared his thoughts on his new book, Juice as well as his reflections on climate change and one of my favourite topics…Hope.?

Without diminishing the urgency and passion of his advocacy for immediate climate change action it was his powerful message about courage and its inextricable link to hope that really landed with me.?

At the end of the conversation Winton quoted Irish writer Samuel Beckett, “…you must go on. I can’t go on. I’ll go on” (from his 1953 novel The Unnamable.) This was a poignant conclusion to a provocative presentation leaving the audience with much to ponder.?

While I am not qualified to put forward any research-based solutions to potentially manage the climate change “horrorscape” that is presented in Winton’s novel, I am able to write about Hope. Over the past five years I have regularly shared the evidence of Hope Theory in my blogs and with my students along with the ways that it can be harnessed for good. Indeed, that is what hope is all about. Winton himself said, “Being hopeful isn’t a feeling…it’s a determination to make things better.” This outlines the difference between hope as a state and hope as a trait. In his article, Hope theory: Rainbows in the mind Charles Snyder defines hope as the “perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to achieve those goals.” It may not be surprising for you to know that on the Adult Hope Scale, I am a “high hoper” meaning that I am someone who scored highly in agency thinking (goal directed energy) and pathways thinking (planning to accomplish goals.)

?While there is a clear correlation between hope and superior academic and athletic performance, greater physical and psychological wellbeing, enhanced relationships and improved overall life satisfaction, being a high hoper does not immunise me from pain, fear and failure. Nothing can do that, nor would we want it to. As Beckett so simply stated, life is about “going on.” Even when we think we can’t. He also wrote in his 1983 story Worstward Ho, “Ever tried. Ever Failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”?

Human failure was a constant topic for Beckett and is weaved through Winton’s story of Juice. But more than failure, Winton celebrates the courage, the Juice?that lives within all of us. If failure is constant, then so too is hope. The hope that something good will come. Hope does not demand happiness or positivity or ignorance or falsity or smiles. That is not what will keep us going in times of darkness and that is not what makes me a high hoper. Believing that there is always a light is our greatest strength and is what will help us endure.?

Charles Snyder wrote in his paper, “A rainbow is a prism that sends shards of mulitcoloured light in various directions. It lifts our spirits and makes us think of what is possible. Hope is the same – a personal rainbow of the mind.” I just love this conceptualisation of hope, and I draw upon it as a reminder that something good will come. There have been many times in my life when people have underestimated or misunderstood who I am. I am very proud to be known as the “Rainbow Teacher” because not only does that promote diversity, inclusion and love, it represents hope. For what does humanity have without hope?

In our Positive Educations lesson this week we talked through Hope Theory, drew our own versions of its conceptual model and then considered how it can be harnessed in the leadup to our exams. We then crafted a Hope Plan including wellbeing non-negotiables, daily study times, and the topics to be covered from each subject. The conversations about Hope with all my classes were very special and included the quotes from Samuel Beckett as well as other writers such as Eddie Jaku (The Happiest Man on Earth) and Victor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning.)?

Hope is not something that weakens us or denies our truth. It is our greatest strength and will wait for us until we are ready. If we have the “juice” to persevere, to “fail better”, and to “go on” then we will find a light. Perhaps it will not be the light we thought we were looking for, but it will still guide the way.?

Wishing you a hopeful week. Please reach out if there is anything you need. Another one of Winton’s wonderful quotes from last Saturday night was, “My job is to tell stories and bring people with me. Otherwise, I’m just an old man shouting at the clouds.” As someone who also feels like “shouting at the clouds” sometimes, I am always here.?

Take care, sending love,

Ms Marnie Thomas?

Oh, and finally, to all Year 7-12 students, don’t forget to join us for our first Wellbeing Team meeting tomorrow at lunchtime in HG6. Everyone is welcome!