Getting Out of My Own Way...

May 2026 @ 9:42am

This is easier said than done...

I have started this so many times. I have so many things going on in my life right now. Have you ever had so many life-changing events happen in your life that you feel like you're spinning around and around? I am mourning the loss of loved ones who meant so much to me, and this grief is something that feels like a huge weight on my heart, truly a weight that will never go away. It may, eventually, not feel so heavy but it is heavy now. What I miss the most is hearing their voices, talking to them, and getting their advice and encouragement. Then I lost my relationship, I became unable to take the negativity that existed in my life, in my home and now there is peace in my body, in my home…in my life. But this peace, although priceless to me, doesn’t take away the sadness, disappointment, or feelings of being a failure, with love, again. 

Now I have to figure out what’s next. What do I want to do next with my life? What do I want the next chapter to be about for me? How do I accomplish all that I want and need to accomplish going forward in my life? How can I be my best self, and therefore be the best parent, the best writer, the best friend, the best person I can be? What life lessons will I learn? What parts of this world will I see with and without my child in this chapter? Where will my books take me? How many stories live within me? So many questions and so many answers. A friend told me that instead of feeling like I have to have all the answers now, just be present in the moment. Find the joy in the present moment. See and feel good in the present moment. Be present, Hope. And so each day that is exactly what I will try to do. My pastor said, in a sermon not too long ago, that hope is always in the present tense. I heard those words from my pastor right before I heard them from my friend. So today I am deciding to be present because Hope is ALWAYS in the present tense.

Time has passed again and here I am sitting at this laptop. It always feels good to be writing which has always made me ponder: Why do I stop writing when I know it is great, free therapy? Well, since I know, I am trying to really commit to it, this time, for the best reason…ME. Yeah, I got to get out of my own way. I need to only surround myself with people who will encourage and support me and Hannah, in pursuing our dreams for our lives. Recently, I was asked if I wanted fame & fortune from this Writing thing and I realized I don’t want any of that. I want to connect kids to each other & the world through great stories. And I want my stories and my writing skills to lead to a lucrative business for me, my daughter, our dreams and our hopes.

And so here we go: Moments of Hope includes Children’s Books; Youth Writing Workshops (On-Line & In-Person); Tutoring for students 3rd - 12th in ELA, Reading, English, Writing, etc; Book Readings & Signings, and more.