Like a sunflower basking in the golden rays, I find myself going outside just to smile and squint and feel the warmth on my face.

My neuroscientist crush, Dr. Andrew Huberman, taught me that getting 5 - 10 minutes of sun exposure in the first 30 to 60 minutes after waking has been proven to increase alertness, boost mood, lower stress, and improve sleep quality.

(And if there's too little sun where you are, those ring lights that you use for Zoom meetings can suffice!)

But this extra daylight after the workday? It's like a director yelled, "Strike the set! Get ready for the plot twist!"

A whole new scene feels poised to unfold and if you're like me, you're ready for it.

It's time to go buy some pansies.  Clean out the cobwebs. Wiggle your toes in the grass.

And HOPE.

The darkest times in my life? When I abandoned hope.

And we all have those moments.

We human beings can get grumpy and impatient waiting for the seeds we've planted to finally pop through the dirt.

Like pregnant moms-to-be who lament, "Will this baby EVER come?"

Or children in the back seat whining, "Are we THERE yet?"

C'mon, life!  Can you give me a little something?  A sign for good?

Hope deferred makes the heart sick... but when the answer comes it is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

And then you see a butterfly.  Or a baby bursts into giggles when you walk by their stroller at the farmers market. A golden retriever gazes up at you, adoringly.

Your favorite ice cream is slashed from $7.99 a pint to $3.99 if you buy four. (Which I did.)

These little, hopeful happenings remind you that it's good to be alive.

Managing the levels in our hope tank is important.  That's why I buy lottery tickets!  Aside from fully expecting to win one of these days, just having a ticket says to the universe, "I believe something outrageously wonderful could be right around the corner!"

It's also why I deleted all of the dating apps.  All that swiping was exhausting; even disheartening.  I had to break up with Bumble, and the bitterness that endless (and fruitless) searching can produce.

Instead, I think I'm going to take up pickleball.  And if I don't like it, I'll pivot to something that does inspire me.

The point?

It's a new season. A season of growth, life, sunshine, flowers, and possibility.

A season of HOPE.

Think of something you can do to fill up (or stop depleting) your hope tank.  And do it!

I'm rooting for you.