Winter Blues Turn to Spring Hope

Winter Blues Turn to Spring Hope
Dorcas Annette Walker

Without hope I would not want to live. I would only exist. Hope makes life living in the shadows bearable when I want to give in to despair. And so I savor the small things that I took for granted before. I have learned to live in the moment on good days to tide me over the bad days when I am down. As the world around me bursts into a rainbow of spring colors up here in the mountains of Tennessee and the birds fill the woods around my house with songs and activity, I feel a stirring of hope deep inside once again.

Hope is:

- the belief that someday I will be normal again
- feeling the warmth of sunshine on my face warming my bones
- getting to hang wash outside once again
- experiencing new strength flowing through my body
- taking a walk in my woods with my dogs
- savoring the smiles and chatter of my toddler grandson each week
- hugs from my Nashville grandchildren on quick visits
- seeing bright red cardinals and their mates up close
- hearing birds chirping
- hanging up my hummingbird feeders
- watching the migrating birds arrive and begin building nests in my birdhouses
- feeling the warm body of my dog, Lucy Lou, curled up in my lap
- the touch of silky soft fur of my cat, Sarah Annabelle, and hearing her purr
- believing that I am gaining ground even if it is just one inch at a time
- planting a garden this year with my husband’s help
- walking through my flowerbeds to see what is growing and blooming
- planning and dreaming of things to accomplish for the future