Day of Hope #106
Wednesday October 13 – Day of Hope #106
Goal: Visit an island, then heal my body and relax
Quote: “Rest is a necessary part of a productive life.” – Hannah Marsh
October 13th, 2021, looked very different than I originally planned. I found myself in recovery mode from some strange health issues. A couple of weeks earlier I suddenly became dizzy—sideways, off-balance dizzy. I thought it might be COVID, but the test came back negative. Vertigo, and when I went to the doctor, they said there was an infection somewhere in my body based on my urine sample, though they couldn’t pinpoint where. They put me on antibiotics, and while I felt okay, I definitely wasn’t myself.
Then, after I got back home, things took a turn. I ended up with an internal infection that surfaced painfully in my groin area. It hurt so much that the only thing I could do on this 13th was stay home and truly rest.
So that’s exactly what I did. I watched movies all day, made popcorn, curled up by the fire, and let myself relax, no guilt, no rushing, no expectations. For the first time in a long time, I had the house completely to myself, and honestly, it felt peaceful. A gift I didn’t know I needed.
I didn’t work on my book writing at all on this Day of Hope. My soul needed rest, and I’ve come to believe that resting is the breath between chapters, both in a book and in life. So, I honored that and I gave myself space to heal.
My lesson of hope: Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is pause. Healing isn’t wasted time, it’s sacred time. When we allow ourselves to rest, we give hope the space it needs to rise again.
Bonus Event
Some places don’t just get checked off a bucket list, they leave a permanent imprint on your heart. Michigan did exactly that for me this month.
This trip felt like picture overload in the best way possible. From the moment we crossed the Mackinac Bridge, I knew I was somewhere special. Water stretching endlessly on both sides, that feeling of arrival settling in my chest.
Mackinac Island was the highlight, and honestly, pure magic. No cars allowed. None. Just horses, bicycles, and the sound of life moving at a gentler pace. You have to take a ferry to get there, which already makes it feel like you’re entering another world. The kind where time slows down and your shoulders drop the second you step off the boat.
We stayed at the Grand Hotel and wandered everywhere, soaking in the charm, the history, the colors. One of my favorite stops was a butterfly exhibit, watching butterflies from birth to release. It felt symbolic in a way only a bucket list completion can be. Transformation, Patience, Beauty, unfolding exactly when it’s ready. I stood there longer than expected, letting it all sink in.
And then there was Sugar Island, another adventure entirely. You actually drive your car onto a ferry to get there, which made me feel like a kid again. No rush. No agenda. Just exploration. Ironically, the island falls into Canadian cell service territory, so I couldn’t take pictures without changing my phone plan. At first, I laughed… and then I realized how perfect that was. Some moments aren’t meant to be documented. They’re meant to be lived.
Between Mackinac City, Mackinac Island, Sugar Island, and the stunning views everywhere in between, this trip was layered with wonder. Horses clopping down streets. Bikes gliding past historic buildings. Water, sky, laughter, and that quiet inner voice saying, remember this.
This bonus adventure was one of those reminders I come back to often: life expands when you say yes to places that slow you down and reconnect you to awe. At the airport on the way back we even got some Lamb Weston french fries. It was a great end to a great week.
Bonus Lesson of Hope:
Sometimes the best memories aren’t captured on your phone, they’re etched into your soul. When you unplug, slow down, and let yourself wander, hope has a way of finding you exactly where you are.
