Sessions International

Sessions with the Farmer’s Wife:
Conventional Wisdom for Contemporary Life

March 23, 1997:  Mostly cloudy.  Temperatures seasonal I guess.  Keeps melting snow slowly.
     — Leona, Personal Journal

Sometimes I post these blogs, then remember debates I’ve heard from people who may disagree with what I propose.  That happened with this last writing about preparing for Spring and having hope that Winter will indeed end.  I considered those who are living and have been living in a very difficult place for a very long time; sometimes folks are there nearly forever.  As Leona describes in her journal, today is mostly cloudy, only seasonal temperatures, and slowly melting snow – just like your life. 

Although there are circumstances beyond our control that do not allow escape to Spring, oftentimes Spring and hope are hindered by insufficient or inefficient skills, behaviors or responses.  That’s why I believe education is a very significant component to mental well-being and enjoying, as Dr. Marsha Linehan describes, “a life worth living.”

The next set of blogs will highlight the education facet of therapy, but before we launch into that, I wanted to talk to those of you who are having a difficult time shaking Winter and expecting Spring to ever arrive.  Community is an important element in recovery and healing, so although you and I are separated by physical distance, we are a cyberspace community. 

A Community of Hope

No matter who we are, each one of us struggles at some moment in life to have hope for anything new, good, or warm.  Today, I am not struggling to hold hope.  I actually have an abundance of it – not only for me, but for you, too.  So, if you are low on hope today, hold out your hands, palms up, little fingers pressed together as if you were about to scoop up water to drink.  Your hands are empty, aren’t they? 

I am holding my hands exactly like yours, right above yours.  In contrast, my hands are overflowing with hope.  I lift my hands directly above yours and move them apart so my hope can flow from my possession into yours.  Today I lend you my hope.  Grasp it and hold onto it.  Keep it as long as you need.  Someday you will have your own supply of hope.  At that time, there may be someone close to you who will need you to lend your hope to them.  This is a significant component of a community of healing and restoration.  Use this hope as we delve into the skills and knowledge of living life better.  Hold it close to you to bring life and warmth to those areas of your life that remain chilled and barren. 

I know today may still be cloudy and cool, but I have hope that the snow will continue to melt and Spring is truly coming for your life.  Today, I lend you my hope.

Grain of Truth: I lend you my hope.