Sometimes gratitude doesn’t show up as fireworks. It’s softer than that. It’s the moment you catch your breath in the middle of a busy day and think, “I’m glad I get to do this.”
This happened to me recently while folding laundry, yes, laundry. I was folding towels, warm out of the dryer and I realized that the sunshine was coming through the window, and it hit me that this was a good day.
Nothing grand. Nothing fancy. Just… good. I know I’m fortunate. I get to do work I love, on my own terms (mostly) and I have lots of options and choices about how to plan my time.
Owning your own business gives you flexibility but that also comes with things like making payroll and taking care of tax paperwork and all the admin that’s required. No complaints, but at time, it’s a lot.
Today I want to remember why I chose this life and be thankful for how things have gone so far. Nothing is guaranteed; that’s for sure but I know how grateful I am for where things are today.
It’s a reminder to me that gratitude doesn’t need big moments; it thrives in the smallest ones. When we honor those tiny wins, we build an inner foundation that steadies us when life gets loud or complicated.
Today’s Hope Reminder:
Slow down long enough to notice one ordinary moment that feels good. Let it be enough. Let it remind you that goodness exists right here, right now.
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Why Trying Is an Act of Hope EP 220
There’s something powerful about the moment you decide to try—when you apply, raise your hand, throw your hat into the ring, or simply show up. It’s easy to underestimate that moment because results get all the attention. But the truth is, trying is its own declaration.
I once knew someone who applied for a role she wasn’t sure she’d get. She almost talked herself out of it—too many reasons why it wasn’t the “right time.” But she hit submit anyway. She didn’t end up getting that particular opportunity… but the people who reviewed her application kept her in mind. Months later, they reached out about a different role—one that was an even better fit.
Trying matters because it signals something important:You believe there is a possibility worth reaching for.You’re willing to bet on yourself.You’re open to being seen.
And that says everything about who you are—someone who chooses movement over fear, action over hesitation, hope over self-doubt.
When you try, the outcome isn’t the whole story.The act itself is a statement: I’m here. I’m willing. I’m ready for more.
So today’s reminder is simple—try.Your effort is already evidence of hope.
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The Email That Changed Someone’s Day EP 219
A colleague of mine once told me she was having a terrible week—one of those “everything is too much” stretches. She wasn’t sleeping well, her projects were overwhelming, and she felt invisible in her own work.
Then someone she barely knew sent a simple email:“I saw what you shared last week. It really helped me. Thank you.”
She cried reading it. Not because it solved anything, but because it reminded her that she mattered, that her work was landing somewhere, with someone.
Several people have messaged me about these short episodes and told me that it helped them on a particularly tough day, and it means the world to me that a short message could find someone when they needed to hear it.
Hope doesn’t always come from inside; sometimes it arrives through other people. A word, a kindness, a recognition.
And here’s the thing: you can be that spark for someone else.You can send the email.You can give the compliment.You can acknowledge the thing someone is doing well.
Today, let hope move in both directions—receive it, and pass it on.
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My Christmas Cactus Survival Story EP 218
My Christmas cactus plant is going on 10 years old I think. It’s been repotted a couple of times and it’s huge. For the most part, I don’t have to do much, in fact I think sometimes I overwater it, but it perseveres.
A couple months ago I went to move it over so I could water it and a piece fell off. It was pretty big, a couple of inches long with 2 little branches. I don’t know why but I picked it up and stuck it into some potting soil in a tiny pot.
It looked terrible. I had my doubts it was going to make it. I didn’t really notice it for a week or so and then the next time I looked, it had sprouted new growth and now I think even the tiny piece that broke off is going to bloom.
It’s my reminder that 1. Nature doesn’t need me hovering over it to grow and thrive and 2. Sometimes broken things turn into something new.
Sometimes, hope looks like this: unexpected growth in the places we weren’t paying attention to.
We can try so hard to force progress. To fix it. To rush it. To manage every outcome. But growth has its own timing. Healing has its own rhythm.
Maybe the thing you’re worried about just needs a little space. A shift. A moment without pressure.
Today’s hope: things can revive—even when you’ve almost given up on them.
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The Day the Sun Broke Through EP 217
There was a week recently where everything felt gray, literally and figuratively. Endless clouds, frustrating delays, plans falling apart. You know those stretches where it feels like the universe is hitting “pause” on everything you’re trying to do?
Then, midweek, after days of gloom, the sun broke through. Not for long, maybe twenty minutes, but long enough that I noticed and then things shifted.
It’s a frequent reminder that there’s a lot of life we will never be able to control, the weather is definitely part of that list, but I can decide how I want to show up.
Gloomy days are going to happen, and sometimes things aren't going to work out. But sometimes, they do.
And here’s what sticks with me: I get to choose. When things work out, the sun is shining and everything goes smoothy, I’m still the same person who sometimes feels tired and wants to curl up with a good book when it’s pouring down rain.
I get to choose and at the end of the day, that’s hope.Not the permanent sunshine.Just the reminder that brightness still exists, and will return and rainy days are going to happen and I am still okay.
If you’re in a gray patch right now, hang on. Clouds move. Seasons shift. Light always finds its way back.
Look for your twenty minutes of sun today. It might be all you need.
Start your day with inspiration, positivity, and practical wisdom on Your Daily Dose of Hope. Each episode is a brief, uplifting journey designed to empower you to face life's challenges with resilience and optimism. From heartwarming stories and motivational insights to actionable tips for personal growth, we bring you the encouragement you need to thrive. Whether you're navigating tough times or just looking to add a little brightness to your day, Your Daily Dose of Hope is here to remind you that better days are always ahead. Tune in daily for your much-needed spark of hope!
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