Day of Hope #137 - Monday May 13, 2024
Goal: Slow down, celebrate how far I've come, and prepare for new adventures while enjoying the life I'm creating.
Quote: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller
No Alarm. No Schedule. No Rush.
Today was my Day of Hope, and I had one very important thing on my agenda. Sleep in! No alarm. No early appointments. And absolutely no commitments before noon. I needed it.
Since my book, A Day of Hope, was published in March, life had been moving at full speed. I had already done seven book signings this month, and while I was loving every minute of sharing my story, I was tired. Really tired.
It's funny how something you love doing can still wear you out. And that was exactly why I needed my Day of Hope. I slept in, took my time getting up, and enjoyed a slow morning. I did a little cleaning and laundry, made myself a healthy smoothie, and headed outside to sit on my patio.
My kids had given me a beautiful outdoor rug and a large umbrella for Mother's Day. What a wonderful gift! I sat outside enjoying the sunshine, the peaceful surroundings, and the feeling of having nowhere I needed to be. Sometimes the simplest moments really are the best.
A Little Self-Care Goes a Long Way
For lunch, I made myself a delicious salmon salad. Healthy and so good! Then I took one of those long, wonderful showers. You know the kind. Where you don't rush. You don't worry about how long you're taking. You just stand under the warm water and enjoy it. Until, of course, the hot water runs out. Ha!
I went for a short walk and then headed out for an appointment with the Boise Bra Lady. Yes, that's a real thing! I wanted to get properly fitted for a bra and learn what a comfortable, supportive bra was actually supposed to feel like.
Ladies, apparently there's a whole science to this! Who knew? Sometimes self-care is a massage or a relaxing bath. And sometimes it's finally finding a bra that fits. Both are important!
Shopping With My Favorite Fashion Guru
My next stop was Urban Casuals to see the amazing Amiee. I had met her during my February Day of Hope when I toured downtown Eagle. And she had quickly become one of my favorite people to visit. She's so positive, energetic, and fun.
And somehow, she has managed to make shopping enjoyable for someone who doesn't even like shopping! I was preparing for upcoming trips to London, Paris, and Hawaii, so I needed a few things. Okay, maybe more than a few.
Amiee had all kinds of wonderful outfits ready for me to try. Shirts. Pants. Dresses. And even swimsuits. I tried on everything she handed me. Even things I never would have picked out for myself. That's what I love about shopping with her.
She encourages me to step outside my comfort zone, and somehow she always seems to know what will look great. I found some wonderful clothes for my upcoming adventures. She also recommended a Skechers outlet store, so naturally, I headed there next to look for comfortable shoes. After all, I was going to Europe. I had a feeling my feet were about to get quite the workout.
Chips, Salsa, and a Little More Relaxation
After shopping, I stopped at Chili's. I enjoyed a drink, some chips and salsa, and a Quesadilla Explosion Salad. By the time I got home, it was only around 5:00 p.m. I couldn't believe how much I had enjoyed and accomplished without ever feeling rushed.
I laid out my new clothes and took pictures so I could create some fun social media posts to help promote Amiee and Urban Casuals. I loved being able to support a local business that had been so supportive of me.
Then I spent a little time reviewing my goals and preparing for the coming week. I also worked on my author information and sell sheet for Amazon. And because this was still my Day of Hope, I made time for 45 minutes of meditation. By around 9:00 p.m., I was ready for bed. I lay there thinking about what a wonderful day it had been.
Nothing extravagant. Nothing complicated. Just a beautiful combination of rest, self-care, shopping, good food, and time to myself. I felt incredibly grateful. Grateful to be alive. Grateful for my health. Grateful for my family. And grateful that I had created a life where I could enjoy days like this.
Sometimes the greatest luxury is simply having time to enjoy your own life.
Bonus: Meeting One of My Biggest Inspirations
Something else incredible happened this month. I got to see Elizabeth Gilbert! Yes, Liz Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love. Her story and her book had been such an inspiration to me as I worked on changing my life and eventually writing my own book. And now I was sitting in an audience listening to her speak.
It was wonderful. She was funny, inspiring, genuine, and full of wisdom. Her message was a reminder not to waste our lives waiting for the perfect moment. Get out there and live! I loved that. I had hoped to get my copy of her book personally signed, but she had arranged for pre-signed books instead. Which, when you think about it, was pretty smart.
There were a lot of people there! Even without meeting her personally, it was an incredible experience. I left feeling inspired and grateful that I had followed my own dream of becoming an author. After all, I had spent years reading books that inspired me. Now I had written one of my own. How amazing is that?
Bonus Adventure: London, Paris, and a Bucket List Dream
Crossing Another Dream Off My List
This month, I also crossed something BIG off my bucket list. London and Paris! My boyfriend's daughter lived in London, so we planned to spend a week there visiting family. Then we would head to Paris for another week, just the two of us.
I was beyond excited. I had dreamed about visiting these places for years. And now it was actually happening. Of course, the adventure started with a little unexpected excitement.
A Rocky Start Across the Ocean
We were getting ready to leave when we learned that the plane we were supposed to fly on had been struck by lightning. Seriously? Before we even took off? The airline needed to inspect the aircraft, and eventually another plane had to be brought in. Unfortunately, waiting would have caused us to miss our connecting flight. So we were rerouted through Seattle.
We also had to switch from the first-class seats we had originally booked to business class. Oh, the hardships of international travel! Ha! It was a ten-hour flight, and we powered through. Eventually, we made it to London. Tired but excited. And ready to explore.
London: Castles, History, and Lots of Stairs
Our hotel was only about a block from the famous Tower Bridge. What an incredible location! We could walk to so many wonderful places. And walk we did. A LOT.
If you're planning a trip to London or Paris, here's my advice: Bring comfortable shoes and prepare for stairs. Lots and lots of stairs. On our first day, I logged 15,132 steps and 20 floors of stairs. And that was after traveling all night without much sleep. My poor feet! But I loved it.
We started with a tour of a historic castle, using audio headphones to learn about the different rooms, exhibits, and history. It was actually a great idea to do some sightseeing right away.
It kept us moving and awake until we met the kids for dinner. We also stopped to admire Tower Bridge. It's one of those landmarks you see in pictures your entire life. And suddenly, there it is. Right in front of you. Absolutely beautiful.
Seeing London From the Top of a Bus
One of my favorite things we did was take a double-decker sightseeing bus tour. We sat on the top level and rode around the city. What a fantastic way to see London! The architecture was incredible. Beautiful churches. Historic buildings. Famous landmarks. So much history everywhere you looked.
I loved learning about the city while being able to see so many different places. Sometimes when you visit somewhere new, you don't even know where to begin. A sightseeing bus is a great way to get your bearings and discover what you want to explore next.
Westminster Abbey and Kensington Palace
We also toured Westminster Abbey. What an extraordinary place. There were elaborate tombs, memorials, and historic markers throughout the building. Some were built into the floors and walls. Kings. Queens. Princes. Princesses. Knights. Writers. And so many other important people from history.
I was amazed by the age of the building and the stories preserved within it. The artwork, architecture, records, and historical details were fascinating. We also visited Kensington Palace and walked around the beautiful grounds. I loved seeing these places that I had heard about for so many years.
The Great English Breakfast Experiment
Of course, we had to try a traditional English breakfast. When in London, right? Well... Let's just say it wasn't my favorite meal. Ha! There was sausage, eggs, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes, some black pudding, and baked beans. Baked beans! On the same plate as my eggs! Who does that?
The beans started running into everything, and before I knew it, my eggs were getting soggy. Oh, no. I know it's a beloved breakfast tradition for many people. But I think I'll stick with my usual breakfast choices. At least I can say I tried it!
Hamilton in London
Another highlight was seeing a live performance of Hamilton. It was fantastic! The music. The performances. The energy. Everything. What an incredible experience to see such a famous production while visiting London. We had such a wonderful time exploring the city, spending time with family, and experiencing things I had only seen in pictures or movies.
And then it was time for our next adventure. Paris!
Paris: The City of Lights
Our hotel in Paris was only about a block from the Eiffel Tower. Can you believe that? We could go to the top of our hotel and see the tower in all its glory. It was beautiful during the day. But at night? Absolutely magical. Seeing the Eiffel Tower illuminated against the night sky was one of those moments I wanted to remember forever.
I just stood there taking it all in. I was actually in Paris. Another dream had become a reality.
Exploring Paris
We packed so much into our week. We took a boat tour along the Seine River, enjoying views of the city from the water. We visited beautiful restaurants and explored famous neighborhoods.
We saw preparations underway for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which were being held in Paris that year. That made the visit even more interesting. There was so much excitement throughout the city.
We also visited the Louvre. Wow. What an extraordinary museum. The artwork. The sculptures. The furniture. The history. Room after room filled with treasures from different periods of time. And, of course, we saw the famous Mona Lisa. Another one of those moments where you think: I've seen pictures of this my entire life. And now I'm standing right here looking at the real thing. Pretty amazing.
Emily in Paris!
Now, there was one tour I was especially excited about. The Emily in Paris walking tour!
I loved the show, so getting to visit some of the filming locations was so much fun. We saw Emily's apartment building. The location of her workplace. The spot where she enjoyed her first croissant. And, of course, Gabriel's restaurant. I even got to sit at the café! How fun is that?
I loved walking through the streets and recognizing places from the show. It was such a playful way to explore Paris. And I was having the time of my life.
A Surprise at the Eiffel Tower
But the biggest surprise of the entire trip was still to come. While we were at the Eiffel Tower, my boyfriend got down on one knee. Yes. Down on one knee in front of the Eiffel Tower!
He gave me a beautiful promise ring. And then he said something I will never forget. “When you're ready, you ask me to marry you.” How sweet is that? It wasn't a traditional marriage proposal. It was something different. Something thoughtful.
Something that gave me the freedom to decide when I was ready for that next chapter. And I loved that. Here I was in Paris, standing in front of one of the most romantic landmarks in the world, receiving a promise ring from someone who wanted to build a future with me. What an incredible memory.
Will there be a wedding someday? Stay tuned!
Flying Home in Style
After two incredible weeks, it was time to head home. And this time, we got to experience international first class. Oh, my goodness. I had never flown internationally in first class before. The seats actually reclined all the way into beds! And each passenger had their own private space. I had only seen that kind of thing in movies. It was wonderful.
After all the walking, sightseeing, and adventures, I was more than ready to relax on the flight home.
What an incredible trip. Two beautiful countries. Time with family. Famous landmarks. Wonderful experiences. A few travel challenges. And one very special promise ring. I had crossed another dream off my bucket list. And I was already wondering what adventure might be next.
What a month! And what a reminder that life isn't meant to be spent only working, planning, and preparing for someday. Someday has to become today eventually. I had spent years working hard, raising my family, building my career, and taking care of everyone around me. But I was learning to make room for my own dreams, too.
Some were small. Like enjoying a quiet morning on my patio. And some were enormous. Like standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Both mattered. Both brought me joy. And both reminded me why I started taking a Day of Hope in the first place.
My Lesson of Hope: Don't spend your entire life working toward someday while forgetting to enjoy today. Your dreams don't have to be extravagant, and your happiness doesn't have to wait for the perfect circumstances. Sometimes hope looks like sleeping in, enjoying your patio, or taking a long shower. Other times it looks like boarding a plane, visiting a place you've always dreamed about, or saying yes to a new adventure. Make time for both. Celebrate the little moments, pursue the big dreams, and never forget to enjoy the life you're working so hard to create.
