Keeping the Hope Alive

Keeping the Hope Alive

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” –Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Spring is a special season, as things that have been dormant and hidden for months are rising from their slumber. It’s a time of new growth and renewal.

Just like nature, we, humans, go through our own cycles. Sometimes we feel stuck while other times we’re full of despair. It feels impossible to see beyond the gloom and the darkness when we’re facing challenges.

But the human spirit is not unlike nature. We’re resilient. Deep down, we know that just like the sunshine comes back in spring, we, too, can bounce back.

Do you know what’s the glue that keeps us from falling apart during our darkest hours? The answer is hope.

As you go through the ups and downs of recovery, hope can help you stay motivated and focused. Hope — the expectation that things will get better — will keep you strong and give you energy when all else seems to fail.

Finding hope is different for every person, but some common techniques include making positive affirmations, having realistic milestones and expectations, and reaching to a higher power. You can also draw hope from your own peers — fellow travelers on the path to recovery.

As part of the Olalla Recover Centers family, we invite you to take advantage of the monthly Birthday meetings. You’ll hear many stories of hope here. You can also share yours, in return, and feel empowered by knowing that you are making a difference in someone else’s life.

Coming to the meetings is a simple but impactful way to stay motivated and to grow. You’ve heard the saying, “There’s strength in numbers.” For the recovering addict, the strength in numbers comes from hearing, again and again, stories of others’ triumph over struggles.

I love spring because the renewal of life makes me feel refreshed and ready for new experiences. As the temperatures are warming up, things that seemed to be gone forever are blooming again. Isn’t that a beautiful message from nature?

Breathe in the fresh, spring air, and be ready to do more — and to be more.