Finding Hope

Hope

(Noun) - An optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large.

(Verb) - To expect with confidence and to cherish a desire with anticipation.

(Antonyms: dejection, hopelessness and despair)

We all want to have certain things happen in our lives. We desire to have something to trust in, to know that our welfare and security are provided for. In my life growing up, I wasn’t given that. Everyone wanted something from me: my grandparents abused me, my father wanted me to be his mini-me, and my mother wanted me to fill her emotional needs when her husband wouldn’t.

When I was a kid, all I wanted was for someone to come along and offer hope and healing for me and my family after all our pain. See, I hoped for someone to come along and rescue me from all of this. I hoped for my life to get better. I hoped for a long time that I could find a loving family that didn’t want anything from me; a family that loved me because I am me. I held out hope for people who wanted the best for me, not from me.

Brave Sky’s mission statement includes Hope because healing is impossible to achieve without hope. People don’t see the point in growing or staying healthy in mind and body without hope; they ultimately give up and become hopeless and encounter depression, often leading to suicide.

I experienced this in my own life, and this was what led to my own suicide attempt and reckless lifestyle as a teenager. Please read my story, a series of 7 posts called “My Testimony.” I had no one to give me hope for healing, but God had a different plan. Not only was I spared from taking my own life, but I was also given a new hopeful view on how to heal. God granted me the desire to reach out and offer hope to families and individuals in need by sharing my own experience of healing. Anne and I even chose to name our dog Harlie Hope because of the joy that she gives us daily.

Anyone can take hold of this Hope, but it is a personal decision and must be chosen by each individual to purposely seek healing and become whole. We believe that just one strong positive and joyful memory can sustain one’s spirit for a lifetime.

We live in a world full of people who hurt others, both intentionally and unintentionally - intent doesn’t change the pain. Hurt people hurt people. The pain of life isn’t always caused by abuse or mistreatment; faced with losing or potentially losing a loved one, illness or disease, stress at work or school, stress in relationships… we are challenged daily, but without even the smallest glimmer of hope our lives can go spiraling out of control.

Brave Sky offers hope to the family by utilizing many means available to us. We believe that horses can be an excellent avenue to positive experiences that build hope, creativity, and healthy personal growth. Even one day of high spirits can be enough; if the worst should happen and the loved one passes away, the remaining family members can carry on with good memories and hope for the future.

Hope is crucial to choosing to live life to the fullest and to reaching true fulfillment.

“Hopeful people are "like the little engine that could, [because] they keep telling themselves "I think I can, I think I can.” - Wikipedia on Hope