Hope and Resilience in Uncertain Times

Jan 22

a podcast conversation on A Hopeful Life

**Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.**

Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit.

Story

Hope Scarves

It’s 10:17 a.m. on January 20th, and I’m standing in a bright happy workroom at a counter with my family, in our own little assembly line, carefully stuffing mesh bags with love notes, information, and supportive stories that will make their way around the world for people with cancer. I hear the cheerful banter of some incredible high school students who showed up on their day off to help make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

We felt an urgency on Monday to engage, participate, and take actions aligned with our values. We always take time to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy of bringing people together and building our human capacity for love through engaged citizenship. For MLK Day this year, we volunteered at Hope Scarves, an international nonprofit organization based in Louisville, Kentucky. Their mission is to support people facing cancer through scarves, stories, and research.

This organization holds a special place in my heart, as its founder, Lara MacGregor, was a mom-friend from school. We were part of a walking group and often found ourselves deep in conversations about hope and resilience, human development, the order of the universe, and those big “what-does-it-all-mean” questions. In 2021, Lara invited me onto her podcast to share one of those conversations with the world. We talked about hope and love in the face of immense challenges. How do you find hope and love, and believe in the goodness of life, when the worst imaginable is happening? I won’t pretend we had all the answers, but Lara and I shared an unforgettable connection—talking honestly about how humans heal, grow, and change.

In 2022, Lara passed away. Yet her legacy continues through the ripple effect of her work, touching tens of thousands—possibly uncountable—lives. It is a powerful reminder of the light one person can bring into the world and how that light lives on, helping others heal and grow.

Love in Action

Hope Scarves’ mission is a true testament to love, compassion, and the power of community. In 2025, I want to focus on love—not just the feeling, but love in action. I want to engage, highlight, experience, and offer what love means through tangible, intentional acts. Love of self, love of others, love of place, and love of planet. Love is a powerful force that helps all of us grow. The deepest, most transformative love often comes from people who have been through hard times; people who have experienced profound growth in the face of immense suffering.

While stuffing bags with love notes at Hope Scarves, I remembered so many lovely things about Lara: her courage, her strength, her relentless spirit in helping others. May we all be so fortunate as to find that courage, that big love within ourselves, and share it with everyone around us. Later that afternoon, I listened to our podcast conversation and realized how relevant it feels even now. I offer it to you as support and light, reminding all of us of the path of hope and resilience we can cultivate every day.

Highlights from Our Conversation

In the midst of collective trauma, uncertainty, and personal challenges, hope can feel elusive. Yet, as we explored on the A Hopeful Life podcast with Lara McGregor, founder of Hope Scarves, navigating these struggles with resilience and mindfulness can open the door to healing and growth.

Living with Hope

Hope isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff—it’s about being present with it. By acknowledging the difficulties we face, naming them, and choosing how to respond, we invite resilience into our lives. For me, hope is rooted in mindfulness, connection, and creating a sustainable path forward, even when the way is unclear.

Naming the Weight We Carry

From the pandemic to political divides, many of us are carrying more than we realize. Cultural trauma isn’t just about one catastrophic event—it’s the accumulation of stressors that leave us feeling overwhelmed. Acknowledging this shared burden is a powerful first step in healing. By naming what we’re navigating, we release the belief that something is “wrong” with us for feeling this way.

Mindfulness as a Path to Resilience

In our culture, busyness is often worn as a badge of honor. But what happens when we slow down and face the discomfort head-on? Mindfulness offers a way to approach the hard stuff with awareness. It’s not about fixing things but being present with them—acknowledging our emotions, sitting with discomfort, and responding with clarity.

How You Can Start:

Pause and breathe throughout your day.
Practice presence by focusing on one task at a time.
Embrace non-judgment by noticing your thoughts and feelings without labeling them.
Name your stressors and reflect on where your energy is going.

In the midst of collective hardship, mindfulness helps us reconnect with what truly matters, offering space for growth, healing, and hope.

I hope you enjoy the Podcast Episode on A Hopeful Life: Building Resiliency.

May you be well,