Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars in 1977, is the first part of the Star Wars original trilogy and the first Star Wars film released. The film is set after the formation of the Galactic Empire and construction has finished on the Death Star, a weapon capable of destroying a planet. Princess Leia is kidnapped and taken to the Death Star. Meanwhile, a young farmer named Luke Skywalker meets Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan begins Luke’s Jedi training as they – along with Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3P­­­­O, and R2-D2 – attempt to rescue the princess (original…). Spoiler alert: Princess Leia is saved and freedom and justice are restored to the Galaxy. Star Wars: A New Hope is considered to be among the most successful – and most influential – films of all time. It’s a true classic.

Hope is a key them in Star Wars. I mean, obvs, it’s in the title. I’ve blogged about hope before. Review “You dirty rat”. In it, I share about an interesting, albeit cruel, rat experiment. In the experiment, rats had a greater survival rate from drowning when they knew they were going to be saved. Of his findings, Curt wrote:

“the rats quickly learn that the situation is not actually hopeless… after elimination of hopelessness the rats do not die.”

Hope.

An avid golfer, I am on the verge of breaking 80. I hope that I will break 80 this season. Apparently, approximately only 24% of golfers worldwide ever break 90. And this happens only after having played for 5 years or more. It is hard to break 90 and here I am about to break 80. There is always hope. Substitute golf for anything: depression, anxiety, toxic work environment, negative relationship, debt. Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonia Spurs, says it best:

“The measure of what kind of person we are is how we react to something that doesn’t go our way.”

Think about what Luke accomplished. You can do it too. The sun will rise tomorrow.