Hope & the Unexpected
It's about growth and learning.
Preface:
I began this hopeletter 4 months ago. I typed 3 sentences and couldn’t finish the rest. Divine Inspiration told me I needed to wait. I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for. Now, I know.
Hope Matters
2023 2023-ed!
Hope Buddies, this is what I would tell anyone who I was in conversation with about my year. There was so much that happened last year only about three people in this world know it all. The emotional highs and lows, physical challenges, relational challenges, work challenges…from January to December. It seemed I couldn’t catch a break.
Let’s just say all of it made for an unexpected and quite interesting trip around the sun. I entered last year with a somewhat new job and full of high expectations for 2023. That balloon burst quickly when, in late January, I received an unexpected phone call.
I don’t have to tell you that the unexpected can throw you like nothing else. Because, by nature, you won’t see it coming. On the other side of 2023, I have more clarity. The unexpected comes to challenge and change us, but we have a decision to make. Will we wallow in our feelings around the unexpected, or will we accept and learn from it so we can move forward?
I experienced so much growth last year, but it was all because of the unexpected. Had those things not happened and had I not chosen to learn and grow, I’d still be fussing about 2023 2023-ing. Was I exhausted? Yes. Was I emotionally drained? Yes. However, on this side of it, I can say it was all worth it. Now, what I’m not doing is hanging my hopes on 2024. 2023 taught me to just let that go.
What I did learn was that the unexpected will come. It’s inevitable. Life is made of the unexpected, and how we handle it determines how we’ll get through it. You’d think as a parent of an autist I’d automatically know this and cling to it. Because honestly, this is how we live our lives. 🙄 But, I digress. I’m learning to feel my feelings in the moment, breathe through it, and calm down. Recognize that this thing happened, then focus on what I need to do next. These couple of sentences make it sound easy, don’t they? But like anything else we make habits, it takes practice. That means the unexpected has to keep happening, and we have to be intentional about not wallowing in it.
I had one happen yesterday.
A car hit something in the road and sent it right my way. I couldn’t slow down enough to avoid it and ended up with a cut rim. Did I cuss? Yes. Did I make it home before my tire went flat? Yes. Did I think that this wasn’t how my day was supposed to go? Yes. BUT, I breathed through it calmed down and made the necessary phone calls. I’m riding on a spare today, but all will be well by noon, when my rim is repaired. Did I thank the Lord it wasn’t anything worse? Yes.
This was a potential day-ruiner, as yesterday was also Son’s birthday, and we couldn’t do the things we’d planned. Wallowing in what happened would’ve made for a sucky rest of the day. However, we made the best of it, and we’ll get to do our things today.
Don’t allow the unexpected to ruin your lives. It comes, and it goes. The most important part of the last sentence is, ‘It goes.’ When it comes, deal with it. Feel it, breathe, calm down, and make some decisions.
My dear Hope Buddies, hope in the unexpected. ☕️
Coffee Matters
Alright, Coffee Buddies, this week I’m excited. It’s not necessarily about coffee. One of my favorite coffee roasters is doing something new in Memphis, Tennessee, and I can’t wait to see it happen. They’re in the beginning stages now and are fundraising. They’ve reached their initial goal of $100,000, and everyone who contributes receives a share of the company.
CxffeeBlack boasts award-winning roasters and true community-building advocates. (See why I love them?!) I’m so proud of the work they do I had to tell you all about it. I’m going to include some links to their page and Instagram below, so you can see what they’re up to.
This morning, I’m sipping their Black On Both Sides: Gera Honey Natural Process. So…
What are you hoping and sipping this week?
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.