Publisher’s Note:
Fill’er Up with Hope

By Barbara Nicholson-Brown

The word hope is a great reminder to believe and trust there is a divine plan for our today, tomorrow and future. Without hope, what would life be like?

 “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” — Desmond Tutu

When I over think and over-analyze to see what’s around the next corner, it takes me out of the present. Hope and trust keep me grounded, and all I need to do is practice staying in the moment. And it takes practice everyday!

Because real life consists of peaks and valleys, and is zooming by so fast, I want to focus on the joy, love, friendships, and family that offer me a feeling of connectedness and safety. Knowing I can reach out for help at anytime is a comfort and I’m not too proud to ask for it.

As an active addict, hope meant nothing more than “hoping to get out of a mess;  hope I don’t lose _____fill in the blank.” For all the hoping I did — life was dark and disconnected. Being shackled to the bottle, drugs or any other addictive behavior are tough chains to break — but it is possible. At the start of my journey, the most I could hope for a was a glimmer of something better.

I was offered much more than a glimmer by people who were on the path ahead of me. And for that I am very grateful.

Have a wonderful month! 

We made it through the summer of 24!