Hello! You’re probably here because you came across a copy of my booklet, ‘Hope in Dark Times’. You can read more about the project here. The text of the booklet is at the bottom of this page.
The booklet is a way for me to pass on what’s helped me. Below is a longer list of resources – I hope you find something on the list that is helpful. If you want to get in touch for any reason do email me:
If things are really bad and you are considering suicide: read this first. Here are some resources.
If you’re just not feeling great: there are lots of resources out there that might help and it can take some perseverance to track them down/find the right ones. Keep going! You can try your G.P., local charities, books, groups, open up to friends, families or colleagues, get a pet or hang out with your pet, spend more time in nature, do something creative, walk, connect with spirituality, rest, lower your expectations of yourself, get some therapy, start a journal, search online, listen to yourself, try to be kind to yourself (not always easy). My regular newsletter, Going Gently, might help.
If you’re worried about a loved one: It’s really hard when someone you love is suffering. There are 12 step groups for those in relationship with addicts – Al Anon, etc. – I’d highly recommend them. You can investigate the difference between supporting and rescuing by reading Melody Beattie etc. on codependency.
If you’re anxious or having other feelings about the climate crisis: You’re not alone! Brian McLaren’s book, Life After Doom, is honest, pragmatic and consoling. Maybe see if you can find a climate café near you. I’ve made a list of some things you can do here. I can recommend taking some kind of action (however small) as a great antidote to feeling despair.
What else is troubling you? Let me know and I’ll add to these resources as time goes on.
Text of the booklet (feel free to share):
Life is sometimes really hard.
There are many forces in the world that hurt us. As a result of big systems – political, governmental, financial, cultural – we suffer in all sorts of ways.
Other people also hurt us – because of who we are, or because they are hurting too and they lash out.
Some people are good at hiding their hurts behind busyness, jokes, success, anger or disconnectedness.
Some folk’s hurts are visible to all.
I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t got pockets of hurt in there somewhere – from our past, and from our present.
This hurt can start to control us.
Powerlessness is horrible.
Our experience can start to tell us that there is no point in trying to change ourselves or the world.
We’re too small. We keep failing. We can’t bear the disappointment. There’s no point. We don’t know what to do.
These feelings of powerlessness keep us safe in some ways, but they also keep us from the best of life.
They also keep us from the truth that there is always a spark of hope, even when we’re convinced there isn’t.
We don’t really know what’s going to happen next, or the impacts of our actions. It’s never too late.
We need to start with gentleness.
It does take courage and persistence to find new paths. If our reserves are low then we need to begin gently.
We can listen to ourselves with kindness, find others to listen to us, or spend time in nature.
We can know that there are good reasons for our and other’s behaviour, even if we don’t understand them yet.
We can trust that we are doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
We can get better at sneaking in rest, being patient with ourselves, easing up on self-criticism, noticing beauty and letting the Earth hold us.
Kindness is everywhere.
Underneath our layers of spiky self-protection is an unlimited source of kindness: for ourselves, for other beings and for dear Earth.
As we slowly relax and open up, we might start to notice the small kindnesses of strangers.
We might also find ourselves moved by other’s suffering, and wanting to help.
This kindness isn’t sentimental or weak. It’s fierce. It needs to be, in this harsh world.
“I saw also that there was an ocean of darkness and death, but an infinite ocean of light and love, which flowed over the ocean of darkness.” ~ George Fox
Small actions add up.
We are not powerless. Small changes can add up to miracles. And when we come together, there is no stopping us.
The best change happens by itself, when we let this kindness flow.
We can also nudge it along, by making tiny changes – just doing five minutes a day of something good, or just saying a small ‘no’.
Our unhealthy habits are trying to help us, and so change can sometimes upset the equilibrium.
Patience and kindness to ourselves is key. When we can’t manage that, that’s okay too. Try again tomorrow.
Help is all around us.
It might not feel like it. It might feel like the opposite.
Also, the ground is holding you up right now. You are probably clothed and fed. The sun will warm you. Something good will happen later.
When we practice counting our blessings, we may begin to find ourselves overflowing with them.
We will then naturally want to share them with others.
This is what life is all about.
Let’s try and love ourselves, each other and dear Earth – while we’re still here.
“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
~ Robert F. Kennedy
