Hello, emerging buds.

Buds everywhere. Buds turning into blooms.

Splurge of colours. Anytime you take a minute to notice, there is this flower bearing a young bloom. Just in front of you. The neighbour passes by your window and brings in more good news: “ Did you see the three new buds? Almost ready to open. “ We all rush and just like a kid in a toys store, we look out for them and giggle in awe when we see the new life.

We giggle in awe also because we can. We giggle in awe because sun is out and warms our hearts. We giggle in awe because we have a safety net, our family around is well, our dogs friends are well and thriving equally in awe to see us opening the door. I never cease to wonder where is all this pure heart and enthusiasm coming from? How much love could they hold in their unconditional hearts. How much attention they master when they tower us with their ever caring glaze - always loving and alert at the same time to ensure each and every one is well. I pause and say quietly to myself : “I could simplify all my behaviours exactly to the fundamentals we learn from our pets. “

Love. Protect. Play. Eat.Love.Protect.Play.Eat.Alert sleep.

They also cry - with joy. When we leave and return. When they know again and again, they are not abandoned.

This would be a subject I can tell and retell with every occasion, running all the risks to bore my audience. This is also a part in myself that I have not met halfway. I sternly rezist for decades now on taking a pet on my own simply because I cannot face to upset them when I leave home or when I travel. I take one step even further and start dreaming right here and now, live sort-of-speak, that I should search for a place or create my own workplace that will encourage bringing pets in. Dear Universe, hear me out. Thank you.

Hand painted birthday card from my soul-sister,Carolyn.

The buds and all blooms, no matter the season, not only remind me of hope. They infuse me with a deep sense of hope. In things regenerating. In things blooming in new, creative ways. Checking every morning on how much taller the buds emerged, I often reflect about my own path. The winter might have been harder than expected, and yes, perhaps there is still a part in me that might be still recovering. Let me simply strip down all the metaphors to basic honesty.

There is one clear direction that is non-negotiable. That is registered in a profound and mysterious way in my blueprint. And that is the bud of hope. There is the same jolt our friendly pets sense when we come back home to them. The new buds of hope emerge from the depth of my heart and my very soul and lift me up. They lift fog or temporary clouds of fear, they fill up my inner soul- pockets and somehow they suddenly expand. Should someone unfamiliar ask how come I stay that hopeful, or if I have solid proof that the new path will be better, brighter, more luminous ? What would I answer?

That I know. Deep down inside. That is 100% much better, 100% more luminous. Solid proof - my own state of mind, my own state of heart today.

There is a new bud in here, that is eager to be as authentic as it could be. And first and foremost, honest to myself. Let’s start there today.

I offer the merit of this fresh bud of hope to being honest to myself . About what lifts me up first and foremost. How to prioritize : Love.Protect. Play/Create. Eat. Love.Protect. Create /Play. Alert sleep full of dreams that I can make true!

Cheers to that.

I wish you find your bud of hope today.