Having Hope in Desperate Moments:

Greetings from the other side of the darkness. Today, I want to share with you all just a little piece of my journey- a journey marked by both despair and hope, a rollercoaster that I know many of you all can relate to.

There have been many times in my life when I have felt utterly lost, moments that seemed insurmountable. It was during one of those periods that I faced a significant challenge- a personal loss that shattered my world. I can remember standing in the rubble of my dreams, feeling as if i would drown in the darkness this time. The weight of sorrow was suffocating, and hope seemed like a distant memory.

It was amidst that despair that I began to discover something unexpected. You see, when everything around me felt bleak, I found myself clinging to even the smallest flickers of hope. It started with the simplest of things- a warm cup of tea in the morning sunrise as the birds began to arrive at the feeders. The soft embrace of my beautiful lady’s body as she woke to tell me good morning. Even the beauty of a sunset over a pond i might sit at while watching innocent children play with each other while casting my line. Each day, I made a conscious choice to seek out those moments. They became lifelines.

One day, I discovered a quote that struck a chord deep within me: “Hope is the the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” I thought to myself, what a beautiful reminder, that hope is fragile yet resilient. I t also reminded me that even in our darkest moments, it can take root within us- if we will only nurture it.

I began writing in a journal, pouring my feelings out onto the pages. I wrote about my fears, my doubts, and also about those glimmers of hope I saw around me. Some of those days, the entries were filled with the sadness, but slowly over time, I began writing about my aspirations, my dreams, and the things that brought me joy. This practice became my refuge- a safe place where I could acknowledge my pain but also celebrate the light in my life.

As time passed, those little seeds of hope began growing. I realized that hope wasn’t about the absence of struggle, it was about finding strength within to keep moving forward. I had to take the first steps, first. We get caught up in expectation of what the finish ought to look like, and forget to live through the beautiful moments that we are living in on this path through the woods of life. Why do we fixate on getting back to the truck instead of losing ourselves during our hike?

The first time I actually let go, and allowed myself to truly laugh and enjoy life was an amazing release. A reminder, that I was still alive, still capable of feeling joy. I became involved with Celebrate Recovery, trying to help others who were also struggling in various aspects of life. In giving back to other lost people, I found healing, and began to realize how interconnected we all actually are. My heart began to expand, and hope became more than a flicker- it became a flame that lit a wild fire in the forest.

This journey isn’t all sunshine and singing birds. I still have regular struggles. My days can be long and grueling and the sun sets, and darkness rises regularly in my life. Some days are so heavy that despair tries to creep in on every side. I have learned to acknowledge those feelings though without letting them define me. It’s okay to not be okay all the time. I have learned that hope is a choice we make- a practice that I have to cultivate each day.

So, for anyone out there feeling lost in your own darkness, remember, HOPE IS NEVER TRULY GONE! It may be hiding, but it’s there, waiting for you to discover it. Seek out the small joys, lean on your loved ones, and don’t be afraid to dream. You are not alone. Together, we can rise, we can heal, we can find hope amidst our struggles.

May you also find the light in your own journey, just as I did. Thanks for letting me share. -M.W.-