Hope & It Takes as Long as It Takes

Forget your timelines.

Hope Matters

I was 42 years old when I finally got my bachelor’s degree. Let me tell you. It was not for lack of smarts or trying over and over and over and over and…you get the point. I can’t tell you the number of times I went back to school and just quit for some reason or other until I just said, ‘Screw it. I don’t need a degree to be successful.’ Now, the people in my life (God bless ‘em.) who knew my capabilities were always pushing me to go back (and dare I say, a bit annoyed and disappointed). You see, when I initially stopped school and had Son then married Son’s father, I only had about 3-6 credit hours left toward an elementary education degree plus a student-teaching stint I’d need to complete. AND, I was good in the classroom. Ask any of my observation and practicum supervisors, if you can find them. *facepalm*

Well…times change and, each time I attempted to return to school, more hours were added to the 3-6. *eyeroll* On the next-to-last attempt at a return, the plan was for me to finish school in about a year and a half based on the hours I’d need to complete (approximately 45) if I took a full load each semester. At this time, I was two years post-divorce, working a part-time job, and ushering Son (diagnosed with autism and ADHD) through adolescence. Again, I quit. That’s when I decided maybe finishing wasn’t for me, and I’d live with disappointing my mother and godmother. Besides, I’ve never had a problem with being the “different” one in the room; this was simply another type of different.

Fast forward six years from that attempt. (I was working full time in leadership at this point.) I’m sitting in a meeting associated with work when I hear about a program for people with almost-degrees. I was encouraged to look into it; so, I did and submitted an application. One day a few months later, I was sitting in my office and received an email from the program. It stated that I was accepted and could begin classes the following semester. I read further down and, once all my accumulated hours had been calculated and transferred, I only had to take 27 HOURS to complete a bachelor’s degree! I sat in my office and burst into a cry so ugly I had to calm down before calling my mom. (I was still crying when I called her, though.) As usual she said, “Well, you can do it, Baby. I’ve always told you y’all are brilliant kids.”

This time I was determined to finish; it felt like my last chance, my last gift of a degree. (It was not, but that’s a story for another time and includes many eyerolls.) I began school at the top of the following year with a determination to finish that same year, because what I wasn’t going to do was spend the rest of my life taking a class a semester. “Ain’t nobody got time fuh dat.”

What you need to know is, there were many days when I wanted to quit, because I was running on fumes from momming and work, but I didn’t. I SMASHED IT! Did it in a year. Strutted my behind across the stage that December and received my diploma. However, it was not without considerable amounts of support from my loved ones, prayer, and massive amounts of hope and coffee that I was able to achieve this milestone.

Some would say that I should’ve had this degree 20 years prior plus a couple more degrees after that. But I say, it takes as long as it takes. If I’d gotten my degree 20+ years ago, my life wouldn’t be on the trajectory it is now. I’m still, and always will be, an educator; it’s in my DNA. I just get to do it differently.

My hope for you is that you recognize, whatever the thing in your heart is to do - if it hasn’t happened yet, will happen precisely when it’s supposed to. Much like my degrees and these hopeletters. You’re simply gathering what you need for the journey right now, whether it’s strength, courage, discipline, etc. Continue gathering. And when it’s time, you’ll have the tools you need to accomplish your mission. It takes as long as it takes, and you will succeed.

Here’s hoping. ☕️

Coffee Matters

Can I get a coffee IV?!

Y’all! This has been a long couple of weeks, and I’ve got four bags of coffee in my freezer to prove it. Those beans have been regularly ground and introduced to hot water, because…life, work, and momming. So, this portion is going to be short.

My current sip is Organic Honduras from Cups (my favorite local coffee shop). As I’m sipping I do get a little sweetness from the molasses they say is one of the taste notes (If you’ve been with me since last week, you know my take on those. 🤷🏾‍♀️). But, just so you know, they also list plum and kumquat. What I have learned is that taste is relative to the roast, and even the batch of the same roast, and most certainly the sipper.

However, this week, I’m sipping coffee to save other people’s lives and not be like Oscar on Sesame Street.

What are you hoping and sipping this week?

If you like what you’ve read and would like to keep me fueled up to crank out more content, you can buy me a coffee below.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this hopeletter about my life and coffee. Please share with a friend who could use a little hope or coffee recommendation.