Growing Hope . . . From Many Small Kindnesses

Still here, always looking for . . . 

This month, hope showed up for me . . . unexpectedly . . . in many small kindnesses.

When we lost our pup, Jenny, last week, I wasn't quite expecting the outpouring of love and support I received. All of your lovely and supportive blog comments brought me to tears, for example. Special notes and cards and emails from friends did the same. People inquiring about JoJo and how she was adjusting . . . opened the flood gates . I fell apart completely when a dear friend made a donation in honor of Jenny -- one of the most touching things that has ever happened to me. 

So. Many. Kindnesses.

I "collected" all those kindnesses in my heart, and someday I'll be able to pass them on to someone else who needs one. And that, my friends, is . . . hope.

Collecting kindnesses . . . and then sharing them with others in need . . . is what hope is all about.
It's what keeps us going.
It's what helps us keep others going.
Spread the kindnesses, grow the hope.

Earlier this week I came across this poem, which seems to say the same thing (only more beautifully):

How It Might Continue
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Wherever we go, the chance for joy,
whole orchards of amazement --

one more reason to always travel
with our pockets full of exclamation marks,

so we might scatter them for others
like apple seeds.

Some will dry out, some will blow away,
but some will take root

and grow exuberant groves
filled with long thin fruits

that resemble one hand clapping --
so much enthusiasm as they flutter back and forth

that although nothing's heard
and though nothing's really changed,

people everywhere for years to come
will swear that the world

is ripe with applause, will fill
their own pockets with new seeds to scatter.

=====

I thank you all for sharing your kindnesses (your "exclamation marks") with me last week. I may have shed some tears -- but I was also filled with hope!

I wish you all a restful and hope-filled weekend.

=====

Today's poem is from my copy of How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, edited by James Crews, and published by Storey Publishing, 2021. For more information about today's poet, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, click here.

Comments

[Vera]

I love the idea of gathering kindnesses and holding them to later spread to others. And scattering exclamation marks! What a glorious concept. Wonderful poem Kym. Wishing you a beautiful and restful weekend - enjoy!

[Bonny]

It's lovely to read about all those kindnesses that were offered and that you gathered; I hope you continue to find orchards of amazement and have pockets full of exclamation marks!

[Juliann]

Kym, thank you for sending hope and kindness out into the world. I am happy it has come back to you.

[Jane]

I too love the idea of scattering kindness gathered from others. That is worth remembering in today's world.

[Carole]

I've thought of you so often and I'm really glad to hear that you've felt uplifted by the kindness of friends during this time. XOXO

[Sarah]

I fully believe in spreading as much kindness around as possible -- certainly when we know it's needed, but we never know when someone might need it and it can never hurt to be kind. I'm so glad that even at a sad time you felt supported and uplifted.

[sustainablemum]

I am totally with you on taking in the kindness and passing it on to someone else when they need it. I am so glad to hear that you have felt supported when you most needed it, that is so important isn't it. The more we do that for each other the better the world will become, a quiet revolution of kindness.

[kat]

I love that poem and it is a familiar friend. It is just overflowing with balm for ones soul.

I have thought of you and Tom and dear Jo-Jo daily... and I shed some tears when you posted that photo of her on IG. It eased a worry I had for her. XOXO

[Mary]

Accepting and sharing kindness is a lovely way to think about hope - and that poem says it perfectly. (has it only been a week? my sense of time has gone out the window! xxoo)