The Tree of Hope Ceremony CELEBRATES freedom from addiction, honoring persons successfully achieving recovery; DEDICATES rays of hope to those still struggling in the illness and those working in the field; and COMMEMORATES lives lost to this tragic and misunderstood disease.
Please join us and members of the public to decorate the Tree of Hope on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at the Bucks County Courthouse, with personalized ornaments bearing the names of people we wish to honor. Whether in commemoration and remembrance for a life lost, or in celebration and recognition for a life gained in recovery, each ornament placed on the 18-foot evergreen tree is a representation of the hope of recovery and a symbolic reminder that recovery benefits the entire community. Attendees will have special opportunities to place their dedicated ornaments on the tree during the ceremony and enjoy refreshments afterward.
It’s not too late to purchase an ornament. For more information or to order an ornament click here.
Webster’s Dictionary defines the word hope as “to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.”
We asked our community what HOPE means to them, we were overwhelmed by the responses we received and would like to share them with you during this season of HOPE.
“Hope is not merely a wish or desire. Hope is a confidence in the future. I have hope thanks to the wonderful people in my life that I can lean on.” – Council Employee
“Hope is that ray of light that beams up the soul and whispers, it is possible’.” – Council Volunteer
“Hope means a better future and never looking to the past!” – Council Employee
“Since being clean hope has been given to me freely. I didn’t have to ask for hope, I didn’t have to seek hope. After working a program and re-connecting with my higher power, hope started appearing in my everyday life. I found Hope in the littlest things that would get me by each day. I now have hope in myself and my future.” – Council Program Participant
“Hope is confidence. Hope is determination. Hope is courage, and faith is the ultimate expression of hope. Belief fortifies the heart.” – Daisaku Ikeda, Facebook Friend
“Hope is strength, wisdom, and faith.” – Parent
“Just a tiny, itsy, bitty bit can go a long way – actually just about the size of a mustard seed should do the trick.” – Facebook Friend
“Having something joyful to look forward to sums it up for me!” – Former Council Employee
“Hope is what makes me take the next step and know that I won’t be sorry.” – Council Volunteer
“A hopeless person feels difficulty in every chance, but a hopeful person feels a chance in every difficulty.” – Facebook Friend
“Something that I am waiting for. It’s a feeling of what I want to have. Everything is going to be alright.” – PPLA Alumni
“Hope means to me a fresh start in life, and it also give me a chance to make up for some of the troubled times I had in my life. Hope is like a ray of sunshine, coming through your window in the morning.” – PPLA Alumni
“Hope means to me, seeking opportunities.” – PPLA Alumni
“Hope means many things for me such a sharing my hope and experience with my friends, family, peers and co-workers. Also it is a time of the year that I share so much hope with my family knowing that I’m clean and sober.” – PPLA Alumni
“There are better days ahead, I show and share the love that I’ve been shown.” – PPLA Alumni
“Hope means to me when you have another person(s) in your life that you can help with their life struggles. To maintain a meaningful and sober life. By doing so it also gives me hope to lead a life of sobriety. The real meaning of hope is that you have to believe in yourself and by doing so, it makes other people see the light in your life to bring light and hope to their life.” – PPLA Alumni
“Being successful, overcoming obstacles, eliminating negatives, a hug or a smile, working hard, don’t listen to judgmental people, acceptance.” – PPLA Alumni
“The chance to start over, to do life the right way. The belief in the human spirit can and will add something in life to become your personal dream. The way into real American life. Hope never ends. It can be the never ending light that shows you the way in the darkest night. The feeling that starts inside and comes to the light. The hope for a better world. A reality that cannot be denied.” – PPLA Alumni
“Blessings and mercy to breathe life into me everyday. To protect me from the daylight temptation, evil of the world, and nightfall disaster. That I can live life with a clear view of the obstacles that are before me. To overcome the negative in my life. To move forward with a strong bearing and positive thinking and motive. Sharing and giving the knowledge and wisdom of hope freely can help others know they can do better by wanting to help themselves and seek help.” – PPLA Alumni
“A desire for something that I would like to see come through for myself or others. Hope is a gift.” – PPLA Alumni
“Hope promises a way out of the darkness of addiction and into the light of recovery .” – Council Employee
“To me, hope comes from hearing other persons in recovery’s experience and strength. Hope is having faith in a power greater than myself, whatever I choose that to be.” – Council Volunteer
“Hope is a positive outlook on life and for tomorrow.” – Council Volunteer
“Hope is what I now have in my life by being in recovery.” – Program Participant
“Hope is having an amazing feeling about life and recovery.” – Program Participant
“Hope is a trust and blind faith that I can be healed in recovery and there’s magic and joy ahead for me.” – Council Volunteer
“Hope is the possibility for anything if you work at it.” – Program Participant
“A better future for our children.” – Council Employee
What does HOPE mean to you? Comment below.
Beverly Haberle, Executive Director
Proceeds from the Tree of Hope will go toward providing Recovery Support Services to individuals and families and to supporting programs in our PRO-ACT Recovery Community Centers to help people access and sustain long-term recovery.
