A Day of Hope: How One Woman’s Monthly Ritual Became a Movement

A Day of Hope – How one day per month can change your life and reclaim forgotten hope.

There are some stories that don’t just inspire you — they gently shake something awake inside you. Kayla Jones, the author of A Day of Hope and the founder of Hopes Highways, has one of those stories. And now, we’re incredibly honored that she has joined the Gr8ter Board with us.

Recently, Gr8ter attended Kayla’s “A Day of Hope” webinar — a beautifully honest session about healing, self-love, burnout, and what it truly means to take care of the person you are before taking care of the world around you.

This article isn’t meant to give away the magic inside her book (trust me, you’ll want to take that journey yourself), but it is meant to highlight the heart behind it — and why Kayla’s message fits so naturally with Gr8ter’s mission of mental health, recovery, and movement toward wholeness.

The Story Behind A Day of Hope

What started as overwhelm and exhaustion — the kind that comes from years of people-pleasing and caring for everyone but herself — became a commitment Kayla has honored for over a decade :

One full day every month just for her.

Not for the kids

Not for the partner

Not for work

Not for errands

Just for her.

She calls it “A Day of Hope”. Throughout the book and her company she references a highway theme. Kayla often says that life feels a lot like driving down a long highway—you can only see about 200 feet in front of you, but you keep going because you trust the road continues. That same trust is what guided her out of overwhelm and into purpose. A Day of Hope became her GPS, helping her navigate back to herself one intentional mile at a time.

And for Kayla, there’s a special road she travels over and over again: Highway 13. Every 13th of the month, she honors her “Day of Hope”—a sacred pause, a reset, and a reminder that even when the road ahead is unclear, hope is always right there on the horizon.

Over time, those 12 days a year didn’t just refill her cup — they rebuilt her entire life.

Kayla talks openly about once having no self-love, no boundaries, and no space to breathe. Her transformation wasn’t an accident. It was a choice she made again and again until it became a rhythm, a ritual, and ultimately… her message to the world.

“The world needs you whole, not hollow.”

This is one of Kayla’s most powerful teachings.

She believes — and lives — the idea that you cannot pour into others from empty hands.
Her message echoes deeply for caregivers, helpers, parents, partners, employees, and anyone who gives more than they receive. And it reaches even further for those who feel broken, overlooked, or worn down by life. Kayla reminds them that emptiness is not failure—it’s a sign you’ve been giving without being refilled. You need to give yourself love first in order to love others.
Not someday.
Not when you have time.
But one day a month — on purpose.

The HOPE Path: Happy • Open • Passion • Empower

In her webinar and her book, Kayla introduces the HOPE framework. It’s not a rigid checklist — it’s more like a compass pointing you back to yourself.

While the book dives much deeper (and beautifully so), here’s the heart of it:

• Happy: Rediscover what actually brings you joy — the kind you don’t apologize for.
• Open: Let yourself explore, dream, imagine, and create. Turn on the “open road” part of your brain.
• Passion: Not the hustle kind — the soul kind. What lights you up? What makes you feel alive?
• Empower: Step into the version of you who takes action instead of waiting for “someday.”

Kayla shows how these four pieces fit together to build flow, confidence, and a deeper connection to who you really are.

The book expands on each area with stories, examples, and exercises — which is why it feels more like a personal journey than a traditional self-help read.

Roadblocks: The Only Things Standing in the Way

Without spoiling the powerful stories behind them, Kayla identifies several types of roadblocks:

• Guilt: “If I take time for myself, I’m letting someone down.”
• Time: “There aren’t enough hours in the day.”
• Permission: “Everyone else comes first.”
• Energy: “I’m too exhausted to plan something for me.”
• Responsibility: “If I stop, everything will fall apart.”

She doesn’t just name the roadblocks — she shows how to break through them. The book goes into more depth on these (and the emotional construction zones we create), so we will leave those gems for readers to discover.

Why Kayla’s Message Matters for Mental Health

At Gr8ter, we focus on movement, connection, and purpose — the things that help people heal, rebuild, and move forward.

Kayla’s message weaves beautifully alongside these.
She brings attention to something we don’t talk about enough:

Permission.

Permission to rest.
Permission to care for yourself.
Permission to claim your space.
Permission to live as a whole human — not the leftover pieces after everyone else gets theirs.

Her book doesn’t tell you what to do.
It helps you remember who you are — and that you’re worthy of the same compassion you give so freely to others.

What a Day of Hope Really Looks Like

Kayla is crystal clear on this part:

A Day of Hope isn’t a rulebook.
It’s a relationship — with yourself.

Your day might look like:

• A spa day
• A solo hike
• A long drive with no destination
• A quiet morning with coffee and no responsibilities
• A big dream adventure from your bucket list
• A half marathon
• A creative day full of joy

The best part is, it’s up to you to decide, and only you, what your day looks like. Her book includes personal stories and examples (including hilarious, honest, and heart-tugging moments), which again — we won’t spoil. But the message is universal:

Anything works if you actually do it.

Why Kayla’s Message Belongs in the Gr8ter Community

What Kayla teaches aligns so deeply with our mission:
Helping people build a life that feels full, connected, meaningful — and possible.

Her work is a reminder that taking care of yourself doesn’t pull you away from your life.
It gives you the fuel you need to fully live it.

Interested in A Day of Hope or booking a signing?

Kayla does book signings in the Treasure Valley on a monthly basis and she is available for events and coaching. Her book is also available wherever online books are sold.
You can contact her directly through her website: hopeshighways.com or email at hopeshighways@gmail.com

This is the kind of book you buy for yourself — and then for someone you love.