Leaving a place where you’ve poured your heart for over a decade isn’t easy. This January, I’ve accomplished 13 years at Give an Hour. It’s a place where I’ve grown professionally and personally, built incredible relationships while navigating numerous challenges both on the job and in life, and had the privilege of contributing to meaningful work that changes lives. Yet, as I prepare to step into possibility, I find myself reflecting on what this transition means for me and how it connects to hope.
Give an Hour’s founding tagline was ‘Help & Hope,’ and 20 years later, the organization is returning to the driving force of hope. While hope is often spoken of casually—’I hope you feel better,’ ‘Hopefully, things will turn around,’ or ‘I hope I can…’—it is so much more than a fleeting sentiment. Researchers and seekers of authenticity remind us that hope isn’t just a wishful thought; it’s a powerful, actionable force that fuels resilience, connection, and transformation. Though the word may feel overused or even passé in everyday conversation, its true essence lies in the profound impact it can have when we understand and harness it intentionally.
Hope teaches us that the answers to our struggles often lie within us, waiting to be unlocked. In the past year, specifically because of the thought leadership at Give an Hour and key partners, I’ve come to the understanding that hope is a tool to navigate challenges, propel change, and support a healthy future.
But if I’m honest, hope hasn’t always been my guide in these last months. Knowing that the need for my position at Give an Hour was coming to an end left me feeling unmoored, and I wasn’t fully harnessing hope to lead me toward what was next. Leaving the familiarity, the ‘safety,’ and the sense of mastery that comes from knowing what it takes to do a job well shook my courage to use hope. It’s hard to walk away from the known. But as I begin to let go, I start to see the possibilities that lie ahead. Hope isn’t about clinging to certainty; it’s about embracing the unknown with the belief that we have what it takes to thrive.
A Legacy of Loyalty and Impact
As I reflect on my decade+ at Give an Hour, I think about the milestones and relationships that have shaped my journey. Together, we’ve created programs, built partnerships, and empowered healing and connection. From developing trauma-informed mental health initiatives to championing the necessity to reframe our social belief about mental health and wellness, I’m proud of the impact we’ve made.
The sentiment from a farewell letter from a colleague captures a piece of my journey beautifully: “Loyalty isn’t just about following blindly or lacking the strength to walk away. It’s about honoring your commitments and embodying compassion, empathy, and forgiveness. That’s what you’ve done at Give an Hour.”
This loyalty has been both my anchor and my strength. It’s one of my core values. It’s kept me grounded during tough times and reminded me to stay true to my beliefs. It’s allowed me to detach from the emotion needed to get things done and also connect to passion to get those tasks across the finish line with excellence. And now, as I move forward, I see that loyalty isn’t just about staying—it’s about knowing when to step away with grace and gratitude.
Hope and the Road Ahead
Hope has always been central to the work we do at Give an Hour, but it’s also a deeply personal force. In alignment with Give an Hour’s collaboration on the creation of the Continuum of Hope, I have taken the time to really think about how high levels of hope correlate with resilience, better mental health, and greater life satisfaction. It’s what helps us overcome challenges and discover new paths.
This professional transition is a moment for me to catalyze on the hope I have for myself, my family, and my dedication to serving others in the mental health arena with a renewed sense of urgency, opportunity, and curiosity. While the future feels uncertain, I’m certain that I have support to figure out what’s next. The tools I’ve used to foster hope in others are now the ones I lean on: building connections, embracing experiences, and finding belonging in new spaces.
To my colleagues, mentors, and friends at Give an Hour—thank you. You’ve taught me the power of showing up, of leading with empathy, and of working together to create change. And to those stepping into the unknown as well, remember this: hope isn’t the absence of fear; it’s the courage and bravery to move forward despite it.
As I enter into a new chapter, I’m grateful to have the opportunity to get a few more tasks across the finish line here at Give an Hour over the next month—gradual transitions as opposed to forced abrupt change is a luxury that many aren’t afforded and does not go unappreciated right now—I carry with me a profound sense of gratitude, an open heart, and an enduring belief in the power of hope to transform lives—including my own.
Here’s to the next adventure.
Kristin Richardson
