Why Ruthlessly Hopeful?
I write about people who inspire me to be more hopeful, and issues that I want to be more hopeful about. I also share the science of hope and resources to cultivate, nurture and grow it.
When I think about the future, I am not as hopeful as I want to be. I am especially worried about the world my kids and their peers will inherit, so this is where I am starting to try and help create a better future. I want a world with more kindness, joy, love and so much more, and it all starts with hope.
Also, I am a breast cancer survivor. Hope got me through my diagnosis and treatment. My hope now is to be cancer free for five years, so I can be considered cured. Two years are under the belt!
There are diseases that need cures, big social problems that need solutions, broken systems that need fixing, conflicts that need peace, relationships, hearts and souls that need healing and so much more good that needs to be done. We need hope to accomplish all of it so let’s go!
Ruthlessly Hopeful Logo
Anyone who gardens understands the hope needed when you place a small seed in the ground and nurture it into something big and beautiful. The beautiful flower, fruit or vegetable is that hope made real.
What It Means To Be Ruthlessly Hopeful
Leading with kindness, compassion, humility and gratitude.
Understanding action is required.
Prioritizing self awareness, self understanding and self care.
Being firmly grounded in the present, no matter how difficult it may be, while continuing to take steps toward a better future.
Embracing “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
Knowing you are part of something bigger than yourself.
Accepting that hope is sometimes really hard.
Understanding that diversity is essential.
Trusting and following your gut instincts.
I am Martha, and I live in St. Paul, MN with my husband, three kids and our dog.
I have always enjoyed being a connector whether it be helping people connect to one another or to resources. I hope to keep doing that at Ruthlessly Hopeful.
My kids, Andy, Sam and Ellie, inspired me to create Ruthlessly Hopeful. Increasingly, I don’t feel hopeful about the world they live in or will live in, so I wanted to do something about that.
I married the best man - really! My husband, Joe, was the best man at my cousin’s wedding, and that is how we met. The rest is history, as they say, and all these years later, he is still the very best man for me!
I am a proud English major.
I believe ….
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, makes almost anything better.
Watching a Patrick Swayzee movie makes a bad day seem not so bad.
If I had a cooking show it would probably be called, “It Might Just Taste Like Crap.”
Prince never made a bad song. Not One!
Pants with some stretch in them are a good thing.
If you don’t know who Ida B. Wells is, you should.
Most Recent Blog Post
Thank you!
Ruthlessly Hopeful did not magically happen. It took a lot of hard work, hope and many people to make it a reality.
Big thank yous to:
Candy Hanson, Victoria Tirrel and Dr. Val Ulstad who early on encouraged me to plant the seed for Ruthlessly Hopeful.
Shanoaleigh Marson at WildByHabit who said yes to creating the logo when Ruthlessly Hopeful was just a tiny seed and brought her creativity and kindness to the work!
Ryann Russ at Iggy + Stella Creative Studio who generously shares her brilliance, wealth of knowledge and experience and positive energy to help Ruthlessly Hopeful sprout and grow.
All the people I blog about- you help Ruthlessly Hopeful spread!
My journey to becoming Andy, Sam and Ellie’s mom.