APRIL 2024

LIFE | LOVE | LOSS

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”

• Maya Angelou

HOPE

“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love.” 

– Bradley Whitford

Hope as defined in the Webster Dictionary is;

“to cherish a desire with anticipation:to want something to happen or be true”.

We have all heard sayings like ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ or they ‘Hoped against Hope’.  It seems hope is a common thread inside our human existence.

We hear people say they hope things will happen or even hope they won’t.  How many times have you hoped for the best and planned for the worst?

It seems like we are in a place where we are likely hoping for a lot right now.  I hope we don’t get sick.  I hope people stop dying from accidents, wars, cancer, and suicide, .  I hope those out of work get back to work soon. I hope all those on the front lines stay well physically, mentally and emotionally.  I hope couples and families grow stronger inside these uncertain and uneasy times.  I hope kids and parents survive home social media and all its pit falls. I hope people don’t get divorced.  I hope gas prices go down.  I hope there will be lower meat prices in the store again soon.  I could go on and on.

The definition of hope in several online dictionaries lists it as a noun and verb.  I find that interesting.  What is it for you?

Are the things you are hoping for making you more of the person you are committed to being? 

Are the things you hope don’t happen keeping you stuck in a place of fear and anxiety?

This is a great time for some extra reflection on how you will use hope in your life.

I know as a mother I always hoped my children would grow to adulthood and have happy fulfilling lives. I never thought I would lose a child. I never thought I would hope to understand suicide in a deep and powerful way.  More than hope I longed for peace of mind and heart after my sweet pup Joey took his life.  That tragedy shaped me.  I am still learning and growing inside of who I am now without him. I am always looking for new and meaningful ways to honor the love I will always hold for him in my heart.

The current global tragedies present us with opportunities to use hope as a springboard to create new and lasting changes for good.  I have participated in the Deepak & Oprah 21-Day Meditation experience on Hope.  Each day there is a centering thought.  I am sharing some of them below.

Hope makes me strong and secure.

The power of hope is here every day.

I have every hope in the world.

In hope, I am fearless.

I trust in my core self at every moment.

I find a reason to hope in every situation.

On my desk I have a daily affirmation calendar from Louise L Hay.  I love her positive thoughts and words.  They are like clean spring rain for my mind adding clarity and refreshing light to sometimes tired and strained thoughts.  I am sharing some of them below as I believe hope goes hand in hand with trust.

No matter what you are currently facing in life, love or through loss you can trust yourself, your heart and hope for the strength to get through today.  To keep putting one foot in front of the other, taking one breath after the next.  When your heart is heavy and everything in you wants nothing more than who you’ve lost trust in the love you once shared to be your boat in unchartered waters.  Let the tide take you to new places, trust your mind and heart that you will have and find what it takes to face all that comes next.

“I trust myself to deal with any problems that arise today.

I am gentle and kind with myself as I grow and change.

Something new is in the air.  I breathe in the intelligence of the Universe, and I breathe out all the tension and fear.

APRIL Message from Louise L Hay;

This month I remind myself that anything I think or say -negative or positive – is creating my future.  What I believe comes true for me.  So if I hear a negative story, I say, “It may be true for them, but it is not true for me.” I rely on my thoughts to build myself up, not beat myself up. If a negative thought does pop up, I notice it right away and use a positive thought to replace it. My new habit is to only speak of the good I want in my life. Then only good will come to me. I sprinkle positive affirmations throughout my day, which keeps my inner smile going.”

“Hope… is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes has within him the gift of miracles.” 

– Samuel Smiles

All my best,

Genna