Day of Hope #113

Friday May 13 – Day of Hope #113

Goal: Completely relax, recharge, and detox

Quote: “Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” – Mark Black

Today's Day of Hope was exactly what my mind, body, and soul had been asking for.

I was staying at a cozy Airbnb townhouse in Eagle, Idaho, owned by a coworker. As luck—or maybe the universe—would have it, it just happened to be available for my Day of Hope weekend. It couldn't have worked out any better.

The morning began slowly, just the way I like it.

I slept in, enjoyed a long shower, and declared it a no-makeup day. There was something freeing about not feeling the need to get dressed up or rush anywhere. I called my mom to catch up, then jumped on a Zoom call with my sister. Starting the day with the people I love always fills my heart.

Then it was time for one of my favorite forms of self-care, the spa.

I spent nearly five hours at Eagle Day Spa, and every minute was pure relaxation.

The day began with a 60-minute massage, followed by a one-hour facial that left my skin feeling refreshed and glowing. Next came a gel manicure, and then something I had never tried before—red light therapy. The ten-minute treatment is designed to help reduce muscle soreness, joint pain, and inflammation. Whether it was the treatment or simply slowing down, I left feeling lighter than when I arrived.

The final experience was one of the most interesting. A detox foot bath.

I placed my feet into a warm tub of water while wearing a small metal bracelet connected to the machine. As the session continued, the water gradually changed colors, orange, brown, and different shades that supposedly represented various toxins leaving the body.

Whether it was science, symbolism, or simply the experience itself, I found it fascinating. By the time I walked out of the spa, I felt completely renewed.

One moment especially stayed with me. The nail technician looked at me and smiled. She said, "Your calming energy is amazing. I wish all my clients had your energy. I could sit by you all day." Her words caught me by surprise.

Sometimes we don't realize the energy we're carrying until someone else reflects it back to us.

That simple compliment reminded me how much healing work I've been doing over the past several months. The journaling. The Reiki sessions. The Emotional Freedom Technique tapping. The trauma work.

Maybe it really was beginning to show.

I returned to the Airbnb, lit by the warm glow of the fireplace, and settled into the peaceful evening. The quiet was exactly what I needed.

For the rest of my Day of Hope, I continued working through my tapping meditations and healing exercises. Looking back, it's incredible how much progress I've made. These practices have become such an important part of my life, helping me release old wounds and create space for new beginnings.

I went to bed early that night, grateful for the silence, the healing, and the gift of uninterrupted rest. Some Days of Hope are filled with adventure. Others are filled with stillness. Both have the power to change us.

My Lesson of Hope: Healing isn't always found in doing more. Sometimes it's found in slowing down long enough to listen to what your mind, body, and soul have been asking for all along. When we intentionally care for ourselves, we don't just feel better, we become better equipped to care for everyone else.