Lynne and Braden discussed the science behind Hope Therapy, a practice that has been studied since 1980. A specific case of hope therapy in action was a hostage situation where a man was held for over five years, but people noticed how he did not change much in those five years. When asked, he explained how he hoped that he would be spared and return home. With this mindset, he made sure that each day he was held was one worth living, avoiding his body to waste away. It is impressive that a small bit of hope can change someone's entire world. In one of our earlier posts, we talked about resilience science; each thought and emotion we have sends a chemical response called neuropeptides.


Another topic discussed the possibility of living a long life. We have always heard stories of people who have lived long lives, stories ranging from breaking all the rules doctors give you to living the healthiest lives. Even considering how the environment causes overall health, there is one thing more powerful to aid in living a long life; a reason or a purpose that you have to live. No matter how small that sense could be, it might be enough to allow you to stay on this earth for a little while longer.


In the time of Covid, many people are beginning to question their role in their communities. For some, it is easy to provide meals on wheels for families facing food poverty due to loss of income or hobs. Others are working with the homeless population who struggle even more due to covid, providing them food, masks, and sanitizing products to keep them safe. Others have taken to social justice, such as the Black Lives Matter movements, and have found their place in those communities. But what if you are unable to find your home in those spaces. Lynne states that they meet every Monday via zoom in her neighborhood to discuss issues in their lives and find a way to help with the community. Rally others from your community to meet up once a month for check-in or ask for use in a safe, comfortable environment. No matter how large or small your community may be, the fact that you can contribute to helping each other, one way could be giving. In a separate post, there will be a further examination of giving.


A few platforms where these communities can be found or formed via Facebook. A feature on Facebook allows you to search for different groups to be a part of and create based on your interest. A few also include groups focused around wellness such as Meditation and Mindfulness or This Mama Cooks for those who find interest in cooking. Also, a lot of parents are reaching out via Facebook for support when it comes to homeschooling their kids. Having to help your kids with homework help pre-covid was already hard, let alone the struggles now with having to in some cases teach your children from home such as Homeschooling Resources.

When you build up your community whether through a safe distance in person or through online methods, you give yourself more tools in your tool belt to take on the challenges throughout your daily lives. And maybe one of those sources that you find will give you the hope you need to press forward to tackle another tomorrow.