Gift of Hope

Today offered lots of topics I could focus on in my post. It is both Easter Sunday and April Fool’s Day. It is also springtime. Spring can be a season of hope. As the seasons change here in North Dakota, it’s a time of rebirth. It won’t be long before the brilliant orange tulips on the south side of our house will be popping up, even if they have to climb through a few inches of stubborn snow to reach the sunshine. Those little flowers are incredibly tenacious. Some years I’ve missed seeing them bloom because they came up sooner than I expected. Bright splashes of color against blinding white snow is cause for celebration.

This morning, lots of children are searching for hidden candy, eggs and baskets. Many will then put on their Easter finery and head to church. What are you searching for and hoping to find during this time of rebirth? How can we nurture our hopes for a remarkable tomorrow? How can we help others do the same?

I suspect we all plow through days here and there where our feelings of hope and optimism dip lower than we’d like. Can you relate?

When I’m feeling blue, the sooner I take action, the quicker I can start to feel like me again. I need to do things that refill my cup with inspiration and good thoughts.

What things help to reinvigorate you? Things that work for me include:

• Getting out into the fresh air and enjoying the sunshine. A bike ride or walk can do wonders after being cooped up inside for far too long.
• Time with family or friends, relaxing and catching up.
• Quiet time with a good book or movie. But I have to choose these carefully. Some topics or storylines can have the opposite effect of lifting me up. Just like watching too much news can be depressing, so can some of the things you give your time to in the name of entertainment.
• I’m a planner. I’m done letting life just “happen”. I don’t care how young or old you are, we all have dreams and things we want to experience. A sure-fire way for me to again get excited about those things is to plan how I’m going to make them happen. This year, I’m committed to start each month with a detailed list of goals and steps to take each week and every day to move in the right direction. Yes, it sounds a bit dorky but it works. Try it! The amazing Nelson Mandela said it well:

                                      “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”
 
Advanced planning helps us make good choices.

Remember, fill your cup. Others can help us do this in so many ways. Do you listen to podcasts? I’ve started to listen during my drive to and from work. I pick topics that appeal to me and it truly helps with my mindset. A podcast I’ve recently started listening to can be found on Mitch Matthew’s “Dream, Think, Do” website. I’ve had the opportunity to see Mitch in person, read his books and now I’m enjoying his podcasts. Yesterday I listened to his March 28th release titled “Breathe, What a Horse Taught Me about Inner Piece”. Mitch is on a mission to help countless others live out their dreams. Check out all his great work at mitchmatthews.com/blog/ to see if his message might resonate with you, too.

As we head into the spring and summer months, the sun rises earlier and sets later. I feel like this opens up more hours to enjoy all the things life has to offer. We still have the same twenty-four hours a day, but just like with everything else, our perception of the opportunities before us is what counts.

My hope for you is that you look forward with hope and strive to never look backwards with regret. Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter.   Kim