Last year, a friend reached out to me and said, "I feel hopeless and alone. I'm not strong enough to do this." Her words were heart-wrenching—a stark reminder of how heavy life can feel in moments of deep pain. It was also a reminder of what a lifeline connection can be.

We talked about her reaching out to her therapist for an emergency appointment, and together we made a list of small things that still gave her hope. That moment didn’t erase her struggles, but it planted a seed of courage to face them.

Whether it’s navigating loss, the wounds of abuse, or grappling with a future that feels like it’s going to be super bleak, hope can feel impossibly far away.

Many of us are wondering what comes next and questioning how to move forward. Yet even in these moments, hope has a way of showing up—not as a grand, sweeping force, but as a quiet, steady presence.

Hope isn’t about pretending everything is fine or turning away from what’s hard. It’s about facing reality with courage, connection, and care. It’s about noticing the small, meaningful things that anchor us and offering those sentiments to others when they need them most.

Here are 5 small yet powerful ways to hold on to hope and share it with others:

1. Lean on your safety net

Right before losing her son to suicide, poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer wrote the poem Safety Net. She said, “I am so grateful that before I desperately needed a safety net, I already knew it was there—which is to say, I had paid attention to how beautifully one small act of kindness begets another. And I think I was also inspired by thinking of how people I know and love sometimes know and love each other, too—unbeknownst to me. How small the world is… and how full of love. Because I was so aware of it before my son’s death, I think I was more open to being caught and held by that net as I fell.”

I learned about this poem from a friend who unexpectedly and tragically lost her husband. And when I read it, I was not only reminded of the safety net I experienced after losing my sister, but also of the one that exists now as our world faces an uncertain future. I’ve been sending this poem out to those I’m grateful to know exist and shine their lights bright even in the darkest times.

Hope grows when we build community. Reach out to those who make you feel seen and supported—the ones who are woven into your personal safety net. (And if someone is trying to put a hole in your net, it’s time to let them go.)

2. Spread kindness

Your love and kindness have weight. They matter. When you extend kindness to others, you create ripples that can grow into waves of change.

Write a handwritten note of encouragement to a friend, donate to a cause you believe in, or offer a helping hand to someone who needs it. These small acts not only make a difference in someone else’s day and make us feel good, but also help reinforce our shared humanity.

3. Speak up and support organizations making a difference

When things cross the line of what’s right or fair or incite hate or violence, using your voice is an act of courage and hope. Whether it’s starting a conversation, joining a peaceful protest, or supporting causes that align with your values, every action says, we can make this better. By showing your support, you give other people hope.

Organizations like the ACLU and Equal Justice Initiative are doing the hard, necessary work to protect civil liberties and equality. Follow them, donate if you’re able, and amplify their efforts. Each action, no matter how small, contributes to the fight for a better world.

Here are the organizations I donate to every month.

4. Stay informed without overloading yourself

Understanding the broader context of current events can bring clarity and comfort. Heather Cox Richardson’s daily letters on Facebook or Substack provide historical insight into today’s news, helping us see the threads that connect past and present. You can subscribe to her Substack for free and receive daily emails with text which she later records herself reading. 

Staying informed doesn’t mean overwhelming yourself (something I need to keep reminding myself). It means choosing sources that ground you in understanding and provide slivers of hope rather than fear.

5. Share words of hope

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit is a book I’ve been mailing out to friends and activists I know. It’s about finding hope and taking action, even when things feel uncertain or overwhelming.

Solnit reminds us that hope isn’t about believing everything will magically work out—it’s about knowing that what we do matters, even if we don’t see the results right away (or in our own lifetime). The book illuminates the power of hope as an act of resistance.

My friend from the beginning of this blog said today, “Soon after hitting my rock-bottom last year I received this print from Alison. I look at it each day and I am reminded of her love, my courage, and the power of hope.” Sending out words of love and encouragement really can give people the hope they may be desperately searching for.

Love, hope, joy, kindness, and connection still mean something. We must continue to dig deep to find it within ourselves and share it with others as much as possible.

How are you holding on to hope?

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless and contemplating self-harm or suicide, please reach out to the suicide and crisis hotline by texting or calling 988. You can also find helpful mental health resources through the To Write Love On Her Arms Find Help tool.

With love,

Alison Rose

Social media: @alisonrosevintage

Shop: alisonrosevintage.com