Dear Reader:
If this all-purpose weather coat could talk it would have some tales to tell…some of you long-time readers know this was the “coat”…the one Mandy and John gave me for my Ireland trip with Anne back in 2014. Has it really been that long?
It was perfect for the weather and almost every single picture of me throughout the 10 days I was there has me in this coat. But the thing I loved most about it was the pockets!
I am a “pocket” girl…What is it about having a place to put your wallet, cards, cash and ID quickly out of sight without dragging a heavy pocket-book or purse around? Since Anne did the driving…I could stuff everything I needed for the day in those pockets.
But it isn’t just using pockets for I.D. traveling purposes…there is also a certain inner emotional sense of comfort in having pockets on oneself…whether with pants or a coat…a sense of security unveils in having a place to simply rest your hands.
As I went to hang up this coat to take a picture of it…I felt myself feeling around the pockets and lo and behold…there were two old Luden Cherry Cough drops in one pocket (You know how much I love them) and a crinkled five dollar bill in another pocket!) Happiness is finding money in an old pocket…crinkled or not!
I texted Anne to ask if she still had some of the Ireland pictures around since Chapel of Hope Stories Part II started in November and the Ireland trip pictures were before that…in June. She did and we had to laugh…not a day went by without the jacket. I told Anne we should have written an Irish story about “Traveling Rain Coat.”
In the latest edition of Kelly Rae Robert’s newsletter she announced that the family was in a rental house for six weeks while their house is being completed…snow has definitely slowed down the process. Kelly said their family was completely in awe of the amounts of snow in Three Sisters, Oregon. Her son, of course, loves it and his new school. Kelly admitted to having a bawling session after dropping her son off the first day…but still she knows that this was the right move…as tough as it has been. She knows she must listen to those whispers within her as she takes this new path in her and her family’s lives.
“This move is reminding me that following our whispers isn’t always the easiest of soul work. It takes courage to tune in, and listen to all that is calling us. And then it takes more courage and work to make changes (sometimes small and sometimes BIG) toward the lives that are waiting for us and our families.”
“Sometimes, this journey feels exhausting. Sometimes exciting. Either way, I’m, digging deep into my optimism pockets and practicing Trust along the way.”
Now that is another reason why we need pockets…so when we are down we can ‘dig deeper’ into our pockets and find the happiness and optimism we need to continue our journey!
(Kelly Rae Roberts art work)
So until tomorrow…let us take time to stop and listen to those whispers calling from within guiding us gently through the next bend along our path. Keep those whispers in your pockets always…ready to grab at a moment’s notice.
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh