Feather by Feather

Today I found myself thinking about hope.

Not discovering it, necessarily. More like reacclimatizing to it.

I know (all too well) that there will always be challenges in our lives, that there will always be hard things for us to tackle, but lately I've found myself wondering what it means to genuinely re-open the door to hope after (or during) a difficult season, to embrace and even embody the possibility of good things, beauty, and joy especially when life feels extra tough.

As I was sitting with that thought, I happened to look up just as a small grey bird flew past the window, and Emily Dickinson's line came immediately to mind:

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—

I've always loved this poem, but today I found myself lingering on the image of hope as a living thing. Not a certainty, or some illusory plan. Not something we possess only when good things feel real. Rather, the beating heart of a small creature that just keeps flying, even when it slips from view.

I was comforted by that thought and wanted to share this little musing with other fellow hopefuls (or hopefully hopefuls-to-be). ✨

P.S. in case anyone likes to see the original manuscript in the author's own hand...here is a little gift.