Hope

Hope. What does that word mean for you this month as we begin the third month of 2025? Do you hope for nicer weather, perhaps to see early crocus and daffodils? Is your hope that work will get better, and people will be nicer. These are some things I have given thought to on my daily walks and quiet time.

For me last year at this time, I was on a successful trajectory to get my novel’s final last round of edits done. Writing and creative projects with potential collaborations was on one hand my focus and privately I was feeling overwhelmed and anxious about whether I could juggle my planner of events. I aimed to lighten my summer load by sustaining daily practices until June. Despite the pressures of current and new tutoring students and a June 30th novel submission deadline. I was confident my busy schedule would recede like the ocean tide. Life was going well, all things considered, and I was in it to run the race. Last year, I was optimistic (confident) that my desires (plans) I had set for myself would bear fruition. Then, as the saying goes, life happened.

Reflecting on the past year, I see I brushed off strange symptoms, overwhelmed by my packed planner and the pressure to achieve my goals. My Type A Personalities and creative readers, can you relate? By April, I was down, assuming I had the worst case of the flu I had ever experienced.

Today, hope has taken on a different perspective. It begins when the sun rises each morning, as I contemplate what the day will bring and how will I show up for myself. My morning routine starts on the carpeted floor, my attention fully on my body. I’m documenting any aches or pains in a journal to show my doctors. Now, instead of the news, I embrace quiet mornings to help shape my focus. During my contemplative time at the breakfast table, I journal on reflections that come to me from my scripture readings and prayers. By the time I sit at my desk and at my planner of activities for the day, it is more condensed than a year ago when my planner for the day was two pages, now if it doesn’t fit one page it gets move to another day. No more cramming planner pages with things I need to achieve within the eighteen to twenty hours I am awake. When I had hoped for a lighter schedule, that wish has come true. (lol).

Now my days are built around morning treatments and biweekly doctor appointments. I’ve discovered that filling my days with constant activity prevents me from enjoying life’s daily gifts. Most mornings the routine of grinding my favorite coffee beans and listening to the coffee pot work its magic helps me ease in to the day. I encourage you to take your time with a wonderful cup of dark roast coffee and appreciate the work of those who hand-picked and roasted the beans for your pleasure. That is one of my ways of showing appreciation for others.

Here is an idea to practice appreciating yourself and others. Look at your schedule in the scheme of things. Does being so busy rushing through a phone call or Zoom meeting help you appreciate the individual you are fortunate to interact with on projects? Are you showing up in the best version of yourself? I realize there were times my actions didn’t reflect my values, the best version of myself. Later, when I journaled my feelings, I regretted my actions and after some introspection; I was determined to do better. Ahh, another benefit of journaling!!!

Living with my disease has led to positive life changes. Now I have time to enjoy the writing process, whether it’s for my blogs, novel, or journal. I’ve pared down the number of students/clients I will work with in the course of a week. I take time to enjoy a meal and build in time for rest. If I’m tired, I watch movies, sometimes for fun, sometimes for study. My doctors and support group facilitator confirm that this is my new reality or new norm.

My Hope for those of you who are part of my journaling community, here is a prompt. If Hope is Confidence (N), Chance (N), Desire (N) and Want (V) how do you envision them in your life?

If you’re a newcomer to my website, nice to meet you. Explore more about me by checking out this website and Honor Your Path YouTube videos. A Hope video is coming out this month. Hope you will watch it and subscribe to my channel to view weekly releases.

Hope you have a Happy March.