Hopeful

Greetings to All,

From the day I met my friend Colleen probably almost 15 years ago, she hasn't ever called me Hope.  To her, I have always been Hopeful.  And how nice it is to have always been greeted that way and to receive mail addressed to Hopeful.  Though we remained in touch, I hadn't seen Colleen for about 5 years. That all changed one Friday night a few months before I moved.  I walked into my favorite restaurant and heard someone say, "Hopeful!"  After the beat it took for my brain to register that it was Colleen, I screamed.  Not loud but loud enough for people to notice a commotion.  Then it was all smiles and big hugs.  It was a happy reunion and even the owner of the restaurant said to me with a huge smile on his face, "I love seeing that."

The true magic of the moment was for a dozen reasons I almost didn't go to that restaurant that night.  And Colleen lives probably an hour away from there and hadn't ever been in that restaurant before.  It was amazing to see how the puzzle pieces fell together that night.

I am thinking of this today because I came across an artist of interest that I was researching on the internet.  The artist is Kelly Rae Roberts and when I googled her name one of the pieces that came up was a figurine entitled "Hopeful Spirit".  The following is a picture of the figurine and I will post after what it says on it as it is a bit difficult to read.

  Hopeful spirit. 

In our best moments, 

we understand that our vulnerabilities are what connect us, 

that there is beauty in every step of the journey, 

that we can love bravely. 

Offer comfort to our younger, broken selves, 

and soar, always soar on the brightness of being alive. 

I love the sentiment of it.  I am also partial to the bird on top of the figurines head.  (Hey Mom, remember those magnets in the flower shop I was telling you about?  It's the same artist!)

On several occasions this past week I have opened my mailbox to find some love inside.  Thank you for the encouraging words and generosity.  It means so much me.  As does the breathing room it gives me.  I am a hopeful spirit and will persevere with patience and determination.

Until next time...

Peace & Love,

Hopeful

P.S.  I went out to run errands today in my silly hat that I usually only wear to walk in the rain.  The first person I interacted with said, "I love your hat."  Perhaps it's not so silly after all.