Hopeservations

It is with absolute certainty that I can say,it is between the shadows that we find light. One can’t appreciate the joyful miraculous magical moments in life without having experienced dark shadows! Without light there are no shadows, yet without shadows one wouldn’t know the direction of the light. So while dark times seem just that, dark… …they are necessary because they mark the end to a chapter. Not all endings are painful yet many are and when that occurs they usually reduce us to our humblest point, and require us to search and seek beyond ourselves. YET… They also help us find our light…they bring us to places of…

You know what they say, “BUC PRIDE NEVER DIES!” HEY Y’ALL!!! Hope here and so this Hopeservations is a little different!!! That is what is so great about Hopeservations! They can be about ANY little Hopeful Observation we find in life! Okay – so here goes… As many of you know, I am a sport mom, mainly of volleyball!!! As you may also know, I had been a Buccaneer ESE teacher, Department Chair, Cheer Coach, team mom and/or mom in some form or fashion since 1995…and so while, this is my first year not actually on Mainland’s campus, I have been there so long – I’m pretty sure when I…

Hey folks! It’s ya girl, Hope… One year ago today, I was writing nearly everyday! All these pieces keep popping up in my memories and so recently I sent a piece to a dear friend and I happen to note that I had taken time to go back and review some of my older pieces, and how after taking a step back, then revisiting them…I realize I had written some very sound stuff. I went on to say that I appreciated her feedback and how I averaged nearly 80K views a month on Pinterest…only somehow…even with that, I always ask myself, at what point do you feel like a “real”…

Beauty is in the way you hold yourself. It is how you treat people. The way you love. The self acceptance and acceptance of others, your desire to understand and be kind, and be true to who you say you are and how you present yourself. BEAUTY IS IN YOUR SOUL. So today, and every day – I chose to be the most beautiful version of myself; inside and out. “I can’t think of any better representation of BEAUTY than someone who is unafraid to be herself.” – Emma Stone I don’t know if you ever noticed but I wear an anchor, an anchor is part of the theme when…

I used to think magic didn’t exist. Until I realized I was magic. Guess what? You are magic too… …so, do not put out your fire simply because someone else doesn’t understand your flame. You continue to surround yourself with the light, never losing hope, and go where your soul feels most alive. The world is full of magic that is patiently waiting for people’s senses to grow sharper…don’t dull yours just because they don’t understand or simply don’t believe. INSTEAD… Be The One… Be the girl they never saw coming. The one who calms and centers and truly claims their heart. The one who leaves a little glittery chaos…

This is dedicated to my trainer Shirley Shepard, and CLUB FITNESS who kick my ass on the regular and keeps me inspired on the DAILY… Hey all you beautiful, hopeful souls, those who love to work out and for those who don’t!!! Let me ask you something…Do you ever feel inspired and stuck at the same time? I know I certainly have…and yet, sometimes that “stuck” isn’t really STUCK at all…it’s more of a choice thing. On purpose and for a purpose! Believe it or not, us humans have our own innate way of dialing in our thought processes and that process is as unique to each one of us…

The past is gone, that aspect of your life is over, forget about any limiting beliefs associated with your past! Whatever it is, know that you can start again from wherever you are right now. Think about the desired outcome you want for yourself and then decide what you can do from here to achieve that. If you make moves and take action towards the things you want, you will end up more fulfilled than if you spend that energy lamenting over how you wished you’d done things differently from the beginning. Don’t keep rehashing that mental loop. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start…

Hey my dearest Sunshines!!! My writing often contains souvenirs from my life — a song I have heard, a quote I have read, a bird I have seen, a person I have loved, an adventure or a human experienced I have encountered — which I then write about. …and I am constantly seeking these experiences, however random, abstract, or perhaps extremely concrete… So a couple weekends ago I was staying at my aunt’s in downtown St. Pete. We were there for the Gasparilla Volleyball Tournament in Tampa, Florida — and every year, this is my opportunity to stay with my Aunt DJ. I love staying with her. It’s our little…

Well, well, well my sweetest SUNSHINES! Happy day today…or any day really!!! So as all y’all (yeah in the south, we say “all y’all”…it’s like the super size of y’all) have probably noticed, I talk about meditation and sunrises and practices and habits a lot and for a reason! I do my morning practice and while I have yet to become some quasi wannabe zen master (although this is an ever evolving process, so keep your eye on this lady)…this girl does speak a little Yoda – so here comes today’s offering! Know that moments of happiness are fleeting. They come and go, and being aware of this actually heightens…