Hope After Destruction

Hope. You don’t realize the power of hope until you’ve lost hope after a trauma or tragedy. As I was hiking in Calabasas, hope is what kept coming to mind. The regrowth that has sprung up in the aftermath of the Woosley fires was enlightening. Seeing the green grasses, flowering plants and blooming flowers in the midst of burnt destruction brought a sense of hopefulness. 

After experiencing such deep, searing pain and feeling that I might never recover, this visual of regrowth from destruction rekindled my hope. 

I don’t believe that anyone can return to be the person they were before experiencing a traumatic event. We are forever changed by our experiences, particularly painful and intense traumatic events.

But I do believe that with some hard work, the right supports by your side, and some self compassion and acceptance, there can be positive growth from our pasts. 

In no way do I feel that you can ever get over or move on past your trauma. When I hear people say “aren’t you over this yet” or “haven’t you moved on past this” it infuriates me. 

My painful experiences will always be with me. They are a part of who I am and impact the way I think, feel, and experience the world. 

They are that burnt tree remaining standing in the midst of the green grass, flowering bushes, and blooming flowers. 

With support, I have learned to acknowledge, accept and use my painful experiences to develop hope in my life and help others bring hope back into their lives.