HOPE Alliance Newsletter

Edition #6 April 2024

I spend much time in the mountains. I love to ski, hike, camp, and ride my bikes, and very occasionally I like to be in the mountains doing nothing in particular; just being there is cathartic for me.

Recently I spent a couple of days in Banff, Alberta. This iconic, historic town has a fascinating history. Banff was Canada's first national park and set the tone for a national park system that rivals any country around the globe. Every time I'm there, I think of the people who built Banff and developed the surrounding area to accommodate people from far and wide as they experience nature's splendour. While walking through the museum during my recent visit, I was reminded of the stories about these people and their brazen motivation to enjoy life in one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world, but also one that poses significant environmental challenges. I thought about their hardships and the spirit they displayed in overcoming them. Not surprisingly, I started thinking about hope.

“The way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think. Don’t fool yourself, the moment will arrive when what seemed so near is still very far.” — Paulo Coelho

Authenticity

I don't think about hope in ways that many others seem to. Hope isn't hopeful. Hope is practical.

While walking around Banff with no intention of getting into the backcountry during this trip, or going skiing, as I normally would, I realized that many others were doing the same. I love people-watching and wondered whether my fellow tourists ever left the town site to experience the Rocky Mountains up close. I decided that likely many of them do not, and then I decided that was perfectly fine. They were happy to experience the mountains from afar. They weren't interested in climbing them.

People may not even realize the satisfaction experienced from climbing a mountain, literally or figuratively. Mountains are ruggedly beautiful and beautifully rugged. It's easy to sink in and enjoy their grandiose and timeless attraction, but not as easy to take one on, so many passively enjoy their time amidst the mountains. Despite this recent trip, I'm not typically one of these people. I respect the mountains, but I'm not afraid of them. I know risks are involved, but the visceral experience of exploring mountain landscapes first-hand is one I won't miss if given the choice. So I make an effort. I prepare for the risks, and I keep climbing. It's my authentic way to experience mountains.

Authentic Hope

There have been many times in my life when I wanted to possess hope in ways that others do. Call it faith, luck, positivity, or whatever you'd like. I can't criticize others who take a perspective that includes these elements, bringing them hope that things will work out well. They're like the people I see on the street in Banff that never leave town. They passively experience the beautiful alpine landscape, and that's enough for them. It's not enough for me

I can tell you that when I've passively tried to possess hope, more often than not, things didn't work out, and I have learned through these experiences that I can't sustain things not working out.

Out of necessity, I've had to think about hope differently in more pragmatic ways. Hope for me has become a lens I look through toward every situation. It's a tool I use to assess opportunities for action. In my private logic, support from others is always good, but not something I can depend on, so I'm constantly thinking about things I can do to help myself, and also help others. Hope, the way I look at it, is defined through action. I think about hope in this context constantly. It's the mountain I choose to climb.

I've become very aware of my ability to take action on my behalf and for others. HOPE Alliance, the group, represents the notion that we all should become very aware of our ability to take action for ourselves and others. It's a movement that reflects a unifying belief that "hope without action is wishful thinking." It's a place where hopeful doers gather to share stories about how they manifest actionable hope, and I'm grateful for each one of them.

Thank you for being a member of this group, and for everything you do to inspire actionable hope.

Please feel free to get in touch, and share your stories with the group. As a member, posts are welcome, and your contributions are appreciated. You will find the Hope Alliance Blog at hopeallianceblog.ca. Guest posts are also welcome there. Don't hesitate to get in touch!