Thoughts On A Year Of Hope

I picked the word hope for my 2012 one word focus. Now that a new year is upon us, it is time to share what I learned about hope with y'all.

I wrote Hope Fills My Life in October, and it pretty much stands as a testament to what focusing on hope did for me. Hope saved my life.

There is one result of focusing on hope I haven't written about, and that is what I want to share today. Hope is one step away from dreaming. Planning. Feeling like plans and dreams could one day come true.

Hope leads to dreaming, and dreaming requires hope.
I have been writing down dreams lately. I am writing them in a special, yellow journal sent by a friend for the purpose of dreaming big. They are even finding their way into my morning pages, pouring out of me.

When I embarked on this year of hope, I had no idea that it would end in me learning how to dream, but that is exactly what has happened.


I am open to believing one day I'm gonna do...anything.
My friend Misty died last week. I haven't had the words to write about her in this space. Everything I type seems so trite, and not enough to explain a whole life lived courageously.

Misty talked about all the things she was "gonna do" one day. She didn't let pain or disability hold back her dreams, even if they were delayed. She kept hope alive. She dreamed big.

So in honor of Misty, after a year spent learning how to hope, I'm going to share some of my dreams with you.

One Day I'm Gonna...

• Move
• Go to college.
• Find the balance between eating doughnuts and being healthy.
• Leave this continent.
• Be published.
• Learn how to sew.
• Go to Oregon.
• Work at a library.
• Paint something really beautiful.

This year has taught me so much; lessons I will carry with me forever.
I was blessed in 2012 - my year of hope. I hope you were blessed as well.

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There is a memorial for Misty at Band Back Together today. She was one of our volunteers, and a sister of our hearts. Tia and Teala have also written beautiful words about Misty that made me cry.

We are sharing our #onedayimgonna dreams on twitter. Big and small.
I would love to read yours.

Misty, you will be forever loved. Always. And one day I'm gonna make those shortbread cookies we talked so much about. Thank you for inspiring me, and making my world a brighter place.

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