I'm putting this here, because I'm not sure exactly where it goes. [View all]

[HeartsCanHope]

Last edited Sat Dec 13, 2025, 12:29 AM - Edit history (1)

I'm sorry if I'm posting here in error.

I have always had a fear of darkness.

I know it's a common phobia,

and that there are even multiple names for the different types of darkness phobias.

Every room of my house has some form of emergency light device.

My husband and son come to me and hold my hands when the power goes out,

(and give me an emergency lantern or flashlight!)

My worst nightmares involve darkness.

Usually a darkness so thick, and smothering that I am unable to breathe, the fear is so acute.

I fill my house with light so the darkness can't win.

I love all holidays that have to do with light.

The diyas of Diwali, the menorahs of Hanukkah, the lovely lanterns of Ramadan,

and the magical sky lanterns of Japan, just to name a few.

I look forward to Christmas each year so I can put up our tree

and have strings of colored lights inside and out--everywhere--without seeming weird.

I can breathe at Christmas, it always brightens my heart as well as drives away the darkness.

Even if you don't celebrate the religious aspect of Christmas, you can appreciate the thought--

peace on earth and good will toward all.

It's my favorite time of year.

I no longer practice Christianity with a community

--not even sure I believe in any deity anymore,

but I do love the thought that we are all brothers and sisters and we must help each other.

That usually brings me such light that it fills me up.

But this year, I felt such darkness inside that I didn't want to celebrate my precious lights or any aspects of this season.

If it weren't for my husband and son starting to put up the tree and lights,

I doubt I would have done anything this year.

Since Trump won last November I have felt such darkness inside I've felt smothered by it,

living my my worst nightmare.

The only thing that has kept me going are my husband and son, AND ALL OF YOU.

You ALL have become my light.

Earl G and Elad, this community you created and maintain not only drives away the darkness,

but it actually gives me hope that we'll come out on the other side,

victorious over the darkness.

I doubt there will ever be true justice for the atrocities we've seen and read about,

but this community brings us the TRUTH.

Even when the truth hurts we light a candle against the fear and pain caused by this administration.

Each post by this community pierces that darkness.

We learn not only about what to fight against, but how to fight.

That we are not alone in that fight, and that each act against the darkness,

no matter how small, will help us all to win the battle.

Last night I had a dream.

It started like most of my dreaded nightmares--with darkness.

I was above the earth looking down on a darkness that covered everything so thickly it felt impossible to breathe.

I felt such overwhelming fear, and I started to cry, (my pillow was wet when I woke up.)

But then something miraculous happened in my dream.

Small pinpoints of light started to appear on the surface of the earth,

and little by little the light spread until it covered the entire globe.

The darkness almost seemed to run away from the light as it spread. I woke up with a wet pillow,

but a huge smile on my face and in my heart!

My first thoughts were of my husband and son, and then all of you, my lights of hope against the darkness!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you for all that you do, dear friends, to bring us the light.

Each and every post is appreciated and I love you all.

P.S. I edited this to make it easier to read for DUers with low vision.

I'm sorry I didn't think about the problems it would cause to write as I did.