Hope Springs Eternal

 

White Trillium-a harbinger of spring

As I write these words, it is the very last few days of March and there is a steady snowfall outside my window.  So typical of March to have 70 degrees and sunshine on one day, then snow and wind the next.  Nevertheless, at this juncture it can be frustrating.  Just about everyone I know is so ready for Spring. It is the same back and forth pretty much every year, yet sometimes we never get used to that. We have to have HOPE that Spring will eventually come. I took this photo several years ago on a springtime walk in the woods. The White Trillium is a woodland flower that comes up in April and May.  It is such a delicate, beautiful flower and signifies to me the coming of spring as it bursts forth above the fallen leaves of the previous autumn. Not only is it a pleasure to behold, I found out that in some cultures and philosophies, the 3-petal structure represents balance of the past, present and future and also the connection between mind body and spirit.  Such an impressive connection for something so wonderfully simple.  Sometimes simplicity is the best.

So as we wait, impatiently, for the White Trillium to appear and the moment when we can safely put away the snow shovels away, I am reminded of a mindset that helps me carry forward.  The concept of Hope and how there are certain tools we can use to foster that hope.  One of these tools is one of my favorite Bible verses: Hebrews 11:1 which states:

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The spiritual aspect of this verse has always brought me comfort, but on the more pragmatic level, the green grass, flowers breaching the surface and the warmer temperatures are yet to be seen and felt...but we have faith and hope that those days will arrive.  Of this, I am sure.  Every March I go through this.  I am wanting to visit nurseries and start to plant flowers and plan my vegetable garden.  Yet I have to reign myself in and practice both patience and hope.  

There is also more to utilizing the art of practicing patience and hope than just horticulture and the changes of the seasons.  I get frustrated and borderline depressed when I think of the current "State of Affairs" of our country and all the changes that are taking place under the Trump administration.  I really want, and need, to think positively about the future of this country and the future of the world. 

 So many things these last few months have shocked, angered and dismayed me that I don't know where to turn for solace.  I find solace in HOPE.  I look for ties from the past that at the time seemed monumental but eventually had a way of working out. I do what I can to help make my community and world a better place. Yet, I also have to protect my own mental health and well-being. Yet even the simple concept of hope is such an important tool in making things better: "If there is hope in the future, there is literally power in the present." Zig Ziglar

That being said, I can keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward based on the premise of HOPE.    Julie Etta Smith

The Original and the Best: Finding my Roots

I have been freelance writing and blogging for 10 years. It is interesting how my writing has evolved, and I hope has improved.  After just finishing my Mom's biography I feel a real sense of accomplishment and it was a labor of love.  I was generally happy with the final result, although writers are their own worst critics.  It was so hard to determine what to put in and what to leave out.  Yet, I like to think that my Mom would have been happy with the book and there are so many wonderful memories and photos to cherish for the people that knew her well.  

So now that it is complete, I pondered what project am I going to work on next? Many different book projects come to mind....but for now I'm going to go back to my blogs.  There is so much satisfaction from telling your stories, viewpoints and life experiences and putting in print. As Maya Angelou once wisely said: "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."   Wise woman.  I agree with that need to share various aspects of our human condition with fellow travelers in life.

When I decided to rejuvenate my blogs, I researched the various platforms all over again. So much has changed in 10 years.  My blogging journey has taken me from Blogger to Word Press to Wix.  At the time, the reasons for those changes made sense.  Yet, I thought about where I am today with my writing and what my "needs" are.  I thought about the simplicity of Blogger...the platform for my first blog. Not a huge amount of design options, but the editing was simple and intuitive.  Plus the price was right: FREE.

When I was trying to promote my book, I was concerned about followers, SEO and getting numerous comments on every blog-not any more.  I am more concerned about the simple joy of telling my story.  If others want to read it and share comments with me...great.  However, I am not going to lose sleep over it. All those other concerns seem secondary to many writers who are interested in making money. Yes, actual money from one's writing. What a concept.  Or there is the secondary route of advertising on your blog.  I did try that, but it didn't work for me.  Visually unappealing to go to my blog and see the main text of my blog almost obliterated by ads.  Anyway, not for me.  What it boils down to is that making money is not a priority with my writing.  The above meme says is all.

So in my quest to get back to my roots and following the main purpose of why I love to write, I looked up my original blog: Outlooks & Inspirations on Julieetta1982.blogspot.com 

Low & Behold it was still there and every blog I had written since February of 2015 is archived in it. Thank you, Blogger.  I guess it wouldn't just disappear, unless I deleted it.  But nevertheless, it gave me a feeling of security knowing that my writing has been kept for posterity.  I went in and revised the layout and colors, slightly, just to make it new for me and new for 2025.  Happy 10th Birthday Outlooks & Inspirations.  I plan to keep you going.                                                                                                                                                        Julie Etta Smith