Resilience & Hope

Last night was our Holding Hope Support Group meeting here in Port Alberni. We usually average around six families.

As a facilitator, there is a huge commitment to be there in the moment with the others in the group. Frankly, last night I felt tired. My wife and I deal with our own challenges with the person in our family who has a substance disorder and who we love and support. In any given month things go up and down with the people we try and support. I'm sure it's like that with everyone. I'd even go so far as to say that that cycle could be longer than a monthly. I've seen some families who have struggled year-to-year or even decade-to-decade. It seems that they get no break from the constant worry, stress and the draining toll it takes that comes with loving someone in your family who has a substance disorder.

What struck me last night 30 minutes into the meeting was the resilience of the moms and dads and grandparents we support in the group. It was a good meeting in that some had a positive month. Good things happened for them and the person in their life they support. Even though there are others in the group that had a disastrous month, I felt my spirits lifted as I listened to those who had a good month.

There, in that last sentence is the whole point of HH Support groups. Hope!

So I say to you if this is been a bad month or you have had a string of bad months you're in the right place. If you haven't joined a support group meeting yet, I encourage you to make that first step. If you know someone who needs help, give them the information about holding hope support groups. Even the smallest spark of hope keeps us sane and focused on the possibilities of healing and recovery. It does happen. My goal is to be one of those people who have said in our meetings, “I don’t need the group any longer - they are OK now.”

Ron Merk, Holding Hope Facilitator