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"The stories we live and tell provide coherence and meaning and orient our sense of purpose" - Sharon Daloz Parks

Welcome to the Stories of Hope, where we share experiences and thoughts surrounding the pandemic, the psychological and emotional stress many of us faced over the past few months, and how we converted it into hope and opportunity for ourselves and those close to us. We highlight the challenges that manifest across different social contexts and the solutions created by local communities to enhance social solidarity. These narratives are motivating and inspirational and are examples of the way to live the new normal. For those still trying to navigate through tough times, this is also a platform to seek advice and connect with the community.

We invite everyone to share your experiences during the pandemic, dreams and hopes for the future, as well as the challenge of decoding the new normal. As we move into the recovery phase, there are many new opportunities waiting for us. Please share how you are seizing these opportunities to grow and change. Your messages or reflections can be in the form of short write-ups of your experiences or longer reflections, in which you tell the story of something special that you have done, experienced, or thought about that you wish to share with others. We will respect your choice if you want to post anonymous content… Come, join the Stories of Hope to take your message to the world.

Stories of Hope

 
Covid-19 not only wreaked havoc in our lives, but also in our vocabulary. There are so many new words that have become a part of our daily vocabulary. Stories of Hope brings you some of the new words we all learned since the pandemic started. READ MORE

 
​​​​​​​"A clean place is a safe place." And ensuring that we remain safe is our own Gail Bowles-Fraser from the cleaning staff at StFX, a very kind woman, who is always ready to help students. Gail spoke to Stories of Hope about her work, dreams, and what gives her mental strength. READ MORE

 
Meet Anu Joshi, a familiar face at the Antigonish County Library, who found new hope and inspiration in the past few months in activities ranging from learning how to make reusable masks to building connections virtually. Anu tells Stories of Hope about her experiences since the start of the pandemic. READ MORE

 
Preet Banga shares her journey toward becoming a vegan, as she tried to build mental strength to tackle stress and uncertainty over the summer and keep her mind off the news related to the pandemic. READ MORE

 
Dr. Ken M. Penner, Professor of Religious Studies at StFX, answers questions on the role of religion in building resilience during the Covid-19 pandemic and the evolution of religious expression as we move toward the new normal. READ MORE

Frequently Asked Questions
Minding the Mind

This section answers some of the frequently answered questions about mental health during these stressful times. We have the answers for you. In case you do not find an answer here, please write to our experts at storiesofhopestfx@gmail.com

Mental Health Resources
Life Line

This section provides details of resources available both online and in antigonish for seeking advice and psychological help.

Mutual Aid Network
Mutual Aid Network

As the university opens in fall, we are here to welcome you and provide any help that you may need settling into your routine. Email storiesofhopestfx@gmail.com, with "Mutual Aid Network" in the subject line for any help.