For a long time spring was my 3rd favorite month with fall being my favorite, followed by summer.
But I’ve sure learned to appreciate all there is to spring. With the sun shining today and the snow all melted from last week, well, I have an extra hop in my step — just like rabbit! There is just so much hope in spring, don’t you agree?
I recorded this little video for you today to welcome in April and share a fun reason why you should say “rabbit! rabbit!” today.
Time stood still this morning when I listened to Robin Roberts interview author Elizabeth Gilbert who is celebrating 10 years of her book Eat, Pray, Love.
It was the moment a young woman stood up and asked Elizabeth how to follow her heart when her dreams felt scattered. She said that she came to New York wanting to pursue a media career. But now she realizes she wants to travel the country and teach Yoga, which feels off the beaten path.
Liz told her that there are people who are like jackhammers. They come here knowing what they want and they go after it and nothing gets in their way. Then there are the hummingbirds of the world who try this and try that, always searching.
She went on to say that our world rewards jackhammers. But the truth is, those of us who are hummingbirds are on a scavenger hunt. We are allowed to follow our curiosity. Her advice that just because this is who you were last year does not mean that you can’t be something different now. She said to the young gal, “just keep going. Just keep looking.”
This hit a very deep place inside me. It was exactly why I was in transition for three years which I will be sharing in my new book Wisdom Found in the Pause later this year.
I struggled with letting go of the chapter in my life I call my “Frankie Chapter,” (and I wrote about that time of my life in my memoir Through Frankie’s Eyes),wanting to move on after she passed. But not sure where I was headed, though something niggled at my heart that I wanted to explore.
Tears sprang to my eyes as Liz’s words rang through my mind and vibrated in my heart. I AM a hummingbird. I was so overcome with emotion.
And then it hit even deeper. As I wrote about in my memoir, Through Frankie’s Eyes I believe with all my heart that Frankie came to me two weeks after her death as a hummingbird.
It was late one afternoon almost four years ago when I was sitting on the deck, lost in thought about Frankie, that a hummingbird fluttered about a foot in front of my face. She flitted back and forth – back and forth. This had never happened before. I don’t know really how long this lasted, but the feelings that ran through me in those moments were hard to deny that it was her.
In my heart I believe it was Frankie sending me a message that she was okay – she was still with me – and that I would be okay. Because as I wrote about in my memoir I had tied my identity so close to Frankie and my work with her that I didn’t know how to move on without her.
As these thoughts swirled through my mind this morning I had another aha! that perhaps Frankie was letting me know that it was okay for me to be a hummingbird. She was showing me that I could go on to follow other dreams in my heart.
My heart smiles as it feels like another full circle moment. But mostly a confirmation that everything I felt those three years of transition was okay. We are allowed to pursue what we want and to take the time to figure things out.
I don’t know how Elizabeth Gilbert does it with her thoughts that resonate deeply with so many women. But I, for one, am so grateful for her. And I’m grateful for the little dachshund on wheels, Frankie, who I also believe just sent me another message to keep following my heart.
Here is the interview with Liz if you’d like to watch it yourself.
John came home from a job site a few weeks ago where he is doing a kitchen remodel.
He told me about a cat that hangs out with him while he works. Of course, I wanted to know the cats name. He didn’t know.
But the next day he asked the owners. The cats name is Veteran because he showed up on Veteran’s Day a few years ago, and has stayed ever since.
Now, to hear John talk about this cat is where he makes my heart swoon. I can just tell that John loves the company of this sweet cat with the most endearing little face. Does it not look like Veteran is smiling?
Well, I suppose he is smiling just like I am when John tells me about Veteran after he’s been at the job site for the day. He enjoys the company of the little cat who sits quietly and seems to enjoy John’s company, too.
I even think this “tough carpenter” just may miss that sweet little cat when the job is done.
But you know, and don’t tell anyone…. John is really a big ol’ softy on the inside. And when that comes out, like it does when he talks about how he watches out for Veteran… well, as you can imagine, this is exactly what makes my heart melt.
And I fall in love all over again with the man I’ve been with for 36 years now.
