I often wonder where we would be as a society without ‘hope’, that intrinsic value of optimism. Without it we would be a hopeless mess and thanks to organizations like Journey to Hope Inc, they are here locally to encourage awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
The Cambridge Dictionary definition states that hope is “to want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might.” In other words, hoping for something means anticipating, assuming, expecting, trusting, wishing, and looking forward to…and in all of this the hope may seem far away but the fact that humans have the potential to hope reveals more than what we can conjure up. It’s innate. That’s why The Journey to Hope is a journey to healing and an optimistic step to a better frame of mind.
I am sure that many individuals have at one time or other experienced a feeling of hopelessness, that feeling that causes despair about something. But even in that moment of hopelessness, I believe there is a force within us to drive us to hope that tomorrow will be a better day. When I have had moments of despair, I encourage myself in words my husband directs at me saying, “One day does not make a lifetime…”
Ultimately, the situation is revaluated and if change needs to happen, then the wheels are in motion to make a change. Inevitably for the most part, after a good night’s sleep, the world might seem a little brighter.
In the upcoming Journey to Hope annual walk in Crescent Park, it’s a time to remember and honour those special individuals lost to suicide, to offer hope to those who are feeling desperate and to encourage others that may be grieving for lost loved ones.
As we all know, the mental health of people of all ages has been on a downslide, especially during the pandemic. It’s an issue we all need to keep in the forefront of our minds and do our part to keep society informed of mental health initiatives and encourage those that need to be uplifted.
Another aspect, The Voice of Hope initiative, highlights personal stories focused on addictions and recovery. They are meant to inspire. “The hope is that the lived experience might inspire someone with strategies, with hope, with resilient techniques to help them deal with their own addiction issues.”
The Journey to Hope Walk will be held on September 25th. Read the full story on page A14 of the Moose Jaw Express.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
