With a New Year, Comes New HOPE
It’s finally 2021, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say we are glad 2020 is in the rearview mirror.
Just because the year has changed, though, does not mean the trying circumstances of the past year have relented. Last year brought unprecedented hardships across all walks of life, and those challenges to our health, economy, and way of life will persist for the foreseeable future.
Military families already face the unique challenges of transitioning to civilian life and navigating post-injury living. At Hope For The Warriors, our focus has always been on improving our warriors’ lives, and that’s not changing this year. We are committed to restoring self, family, and HOPE in the lives of post-9/11 veterans, military families, and families of the fallen. As we enter into this new year, we’re encouraging our community to start fresh.
Professional Growth
During this time, job security remains at the forefront of many people’s minds. For those transitioning to the civilian workforce, the challenge may be exacerbated by the continuing economic effects of the pandemic and lockdowns. HOPE’s Warrior’s Compass is a solution created to help with that transition and connect warriors with the resources they need to find a new job they love. Warrior’s Compass Program Manager, Brian Papakie, shares some helpful tips to implement as you start your job search.
Physical Fitness
One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is exercising and becoming more fit. This is a great resolution to have because spending just 25 minutes a day exercising can improve your overall health, mood, and well-being! Hope For The Warriors wants to help you achieve your 2021 fitness goals with our 30×30 programming (last year’s included an exercise challenge, yoga, and a mileage challenge!), our Virtual Run Series, and Team Hope For The Warriors. To learn more and stay up to date with upcoming opportunities, sign up for our newsletter, and join our community!
Mental Well-Being
The past nine months have taken a toll on all of us to some degree. Now, it’s increasingly important to take time to focus on your mental health and give yourself the tools you need to combat stress and negative thoughts. HOPE’s Resilient Warrior and Resilient Family courses teach veterans, service members, and military families how to lower the effect of stress through mind-body techniques and skill-building exercises. To register for our April cohorts, apply for services at hopeforthewarriors.org.
Financial Wellness
The start of a new year is the perfect time to sit down by yourself or with your spouse to take a look at your spending habits and make a budget plan for the next 12 months. As a couple, it’s important to have an open dialogue about spending and budgeting so that both of you are on the same page. As with most things, transparency is key. HOPE Social Worker Michelle Pompos shared her tips for creating this open dialogue on Army Wife Network’s blog last year, and they still ring true.
With a new year comes a new HOPE. Hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a fresh start, and hope for the future. As we navigate this new year, HOPE will be by your side.
Thank you so much for sharing this well-rounded approach to the new year. Each one of these “categories” of focus for HOPE resonates with me personally. My “OneWord” for 2020 was “HOPE,” which almost seems ironic– but I can feel it spilling out into this new year as well. So appreciate you all contributing to our network. Thank you!