Let the earth hold you

and fill you with hope

Life can be overwhelming and chaotic, and it's easy to get caught up in fear and anxiety. The state of the world! The state of my bank account! The endless piles of laundry and the people across the world dying and starving and it’s HARD to be here sometimes. In these moments, I have found that it's important to turn to the small, everyday things that let a little light in. We cannot become so burdened by the world that we forget to live.

Walking in nature is one of the simplest and most effective ways I have found to still the racing anxiety. Is it a cure all? No. Does it remind me of my place in this world and that I am allowed to be here and to be happy too? Yes, yes it does. From the vibrant colors of a sunset to the rustle of leaves in the wind, I am reminded of the magic and wonder that exists in the world, in my heart, in my own backyard.

Barbara Kingsolver writes, "The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof."

And so in times of quiet desperation, I sit on the front step and breathe. Listen to the wind in the trees, watch the birds fly over the river. The solid ground underneath my feet reminding me that there is stability in life, at all times. The sound of the river rushing over the banks reminding me that there is movement in life, at all times.

And as I place one foot in front of the other I think of what I hope for, and how i can live inside that hope. What is it like to live under the roof of hope? At the very least, it feels a bit warmer here.

I’d love to hear about the hope you live with, and invite you to share your hope in the comments today: I’ll be collecting your responses to write a hope filled found poem for us all.