Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. — Emily Dickinson
Recently, I spoke about hope.
It seems to be front and center in my life lately. On October 19, the Brian Dagle Foundation celebrated five years of “Anchored in Hope”. It was both a celebration and an opportunity to honor and thank all of the people who have given me hope.
It is also what we live by. If you could distill the work we do in suicide prevention into one action, it would be manifesting hope.
The mission of the Brian Dagle Foundation begins with “Anchored in Hope”. It is both a term and an event that is a testament to the work we do in our grief support programs; an homage to the people who arrive at our door hopeless, wondering how they will survive their new world without their loved one.
Hopelessness – better known as depression – is a very real and tangible disease that we fight to cure in our daily work, and it starts with restoring hope. Hope that we can reduce the stigma and educate people to understand that death by suicide should not be treated differently than death by cancer, heart disease, or any other illness. Hope that we can encourage our friends, neighbors and peers to reach out and ask for help with the certainty and comfort of knowing that it is not a sign of weakness, but rather a desire to live with abundance, with joy – with hope.
There are times when our hearts are so shattered that hope seems so intangible, so theoretical, as though it is an idea rather than an anchor. Even the prospect of joy and happiness someday making a return in life may feel inconceivable, almost intolerable. For me, it was impossible. My world – at that time – was hopeless.
But now, like the mission of the foundation, the world I live in is anchored in hope.So I share this with you– I understand that right now, in your broken heart, there is no hope. But if you will, please let me or someone else in your life hold that hope for you. And it is my hope for you that slowly, maybe even unknowingly, once again, you will begin to feel hope in your heart. Then together, we will share that hope with people like us.
Wishing you moments of peace and hope in your heart- Ann
We are a group of survivors, together to offer support, comfort, and understanding. Our group provides an atmosphere of acceptance for exploring feelings that are often not understood by others. It offers a chance to share helpful resources, and to provide and receive support through the long grief process. Meetings are on the 1ST and 3RD Thursday of each month from 6:30-8 pm in Old Lyme.
The Brian Dagle Foundation will host a panel of speakers on Monday, September 30, 2019, from 7-9 pm at the East Lyme High School. Panelists will share their personal journey on the loss of a loved one to suicide and the survival of a suicide attempt. The foundation participates in community forums throughout Southeastern Connecticut.
Libby Baxter of Blue Healer Therapeutic Massage would like to share these tank tops as a special edition design with a message of purpose. Inherent in the ‘Healing Happens Here’ design is a tribute to a dear friend, and the purpose to promote awareness surrounding mental and emotional health.
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Libby Baxter of Blue Healer Therapeutic Massage would like to share these tank tops as a special edition design with a message of purpose. Inherent in the ‘Healing Happens Here’ design is a tribute to a dear friend, and the purpose to promote awareness surrounding mental and emotional health.
Libby Baxter of Blue Healer Therapeutic Massage would like to share these tank tops as a special edition design with a message of purpose. Inherent in the ‘Healing Happens Here’ design is a tribute to a dear friend, and the purpose to promote awareness surrounding mental and emotional health.