By Natalya Krasnenkova

We have a proverb in Ukraine - "the darkest time comes before dawn" which means that even at the most difficult moments in the life of a person or a country, dawn comes.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT: Natalya Krasnenkova and Tatiana McGough pictured at the Killarney Darkness into Light walk.

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE: Pictured at the Killarney Darkness into Light walk were: Stepan Krasnenkov Kryna Melnichuk and Natalya Krasnenkova. Photo: Tatiana McGough

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And so there is hope that all pain and tragedy will surely pass, that pain and suffering are temporary and will surely come to an end. There is deep optimism in this phrase. It is this proverb that warms Ukrainians during wars, revolutions and personal tragedies.

Last week, my children and I got up at dawn to join 'Darkness into Light' which took place in Killarney. I already knew that the campaign started in 2009 in Dublin and has since spread throughout Ireland and other countries. I imagined thousands of people around the world waking up, putting on their clothes to embark on this important journey that gives many people hope for life and healing from mental health problems.

But when we arrived I could not have imagined that there would be so many people. Thousands of locals gathered together to start the night and completely dissolve into the darkness.

My children and I were the last to go. Occasionally we heard voices or saw the light from flashlights. We were left alone near Ross Castle completely in the dark. They heard only the birdsong, saw the silhouette of the castle and the silent lake. This was the culmination of our journey.

At that moment I thought of all those who went into darkness and did not return. For me, these were not only people who shortened their lives, but also those whose lives were forcibly taken as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. My children and I watched the new day being born - and so the hope for life is born.

As we returned, the lights grew brighter and the voices of the people around us grew louder. The trip ended at dawn. And it was there that I felt joy and elation. There were living people around, hugging, drinking tea, greeting each other and taking pictures. Life went on.

In Ukraine, I have been working on the subject of death for the last two years. We promoted Anastasia Leukhina's book 'Non-scary book about life, death and everything in-between' https://non-scary.org/en/, which collected stories of many people who experienced the loss of loved ones, children, terrible diagnoses and the fight against older illnesses, as well as advice from doctors, psychologists and patients on how to cope with the most difficult life circumstances. This book, as well as 'Darkness into Light' gave people hope that there is always a choice and it belongs only to you, choosing how to live your life, even in the face of illness or loss of a loved one.

It was very difficult to promote the book in Ukraine, because it touched on the subject of death. I came up with and invited stars and thought leaders to read excerpts from the book on video. Many people voted, but many refused, because the topic of death in our society is taboo, people prefer not to talk about it.

As far as I was surprised, the Irish are so actively involved in actions in which they interact with the theme of death. For me, this is an inspiring example that I will take with me to Ukraine. Therefore, I hope that next May 7 such an action will take place in Kyiv.