The Hope For These Times Project

Read through these lyrics first.

"These Times" by SafetySuit - Released January 10, 2012.
Lyrics:

These times will try hard to define me

And I'll try to hold my head up high

But I've seen despair here from the inside

And it's got a one track mind

And I have this feeling in my gut now

And I don't know what it is I'll find

Does anybody ever feel like

You're always one step behind?

Now I'm sitting alone here in my bed

I'm waiting for an answer I don't know that I'll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirror, I'm failing

I'm telling you these times are hard

But they will

And I know there's someone out there somewhere

Who has it much worse than I do

But I have a dream inside, a perfect life

I'd give anything just to work

It's like I'm only trynna dig my way out

Of all these thing I can't
And I am

Sitting alone here in my bed

I'm waiting for an answer I don't know that I'll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirrorI'm failing

I'm telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

They will pass

They will pass

These times are hard

But they will

These times will try hard to define me

But I will hold my head up high

Sitting alone here in my bed

I'm waitng for an answer I don't know that I'll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirror, I'm failing

I'm telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

And I know there's a reason

I just keep hoping it wont be long til I see it

And maybe if we throw up our hands and believe it

I'm telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

They will pass

They will pass

These times are hard

But they will pass

Now, watch the music video. 

The first time I saw this video was today. I was going to do a little bit of commentary on this song, but I don't think I need to anymore. 

As you saw in the video, people are reaching out to each other by stating their struggles, owning them, and declaring their hope for the future. These times will pass. I was inspired by that, and I want to start a bit of a social project: the Hope For These Times Project. Write down why these times are hard for you, take a picture of it, and email it to me. Then, write down the phrase "They will pass" on the other side (or another piece of paper), take a picture of it, and then email that photo to me too. (You can find my email address on the right-hand side near my picture, under the picture of the Eiffel Tower). My goal with this is to put these pictures in a post at a later date, provided that enough people participate. I'm sure there's a law somewhere that says I need your permission to post your photos online, so if you do participate (I very much hope you will), you'll need to let me know you're okay with me putting your pictures in my blog. While I would love to see your face in your photo (it lends so much credibility), I will understand if you keep your face out of your photo. I am 0% interested in knowing everyone's secrets. Hello, I put my OWN secrets online, I'm not digging for dirt. We can LITERALLY put a face on these universal struggles like they did in the video. This is what community is all about. 

So let's recap:

1. Send me 2 pictures: one of your struggle, and one of "They will pass."

2. Copy this phrase into the email: "I give Andrea the permission to use my photos." (or something similar)

3. Stay tuned for the Hope For These Times Project debut. :)

I'll even get you started: