Holding On When Hope Feels Lost

Dear readers,

There are moments when words seem too small to capture the weight of what's happening around us. The world is aching—families on the East Coast have lost their homes to floods, lives have been upended, and in many ways, I understand that loss firsthand. Recently, I, too, experienced the pain of losing everything, and I know how impossible it can feel to even think about rebuilding.

There’s a helplessness when you realize that some things just can’t be planned for, no matter how strong or prepared we are. We place our trust in systems, in governments, and in our own resilience, only to find ourselves abandoned by the very things we believed would protect us.

I don’t have answers for what comes next. I don’t have the perfect words of comfort. But what I do know is that even in the face of loss, community is our strength. Even when the support we expect doesn’t come, there is still power in coming together, sharing our stories, and reminding each other that we are not alone in this.

To those who are struggling, please know that you don’t have to carry this burden in silence. Reach out. Let’s lift each other, even in the smallest ways. Whether it’s through conversation, creativity, or simply being a witness to each other’s pain—sometimes, that is all the hope we can offer, and it’s enough.

There are no quick fixes or easy solutions, but I believe in the resilience of our spirits. And even when everything seems lost, we still have each other.

With care,

Marelle Couture

Weekly Shiz Nit: Be kind, we are all just trying to get by. ty