Your Daily Dose of Hope

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. Anne Lamott When our world seems full of challenges and uncertainty, hope can feel like something that once ran smoothly but has mysteriously crashed. Because hope isn't simply optimism or wishful thinking; it's the engine that powers meaningful change and resilience. Like restarting a computer, we sometimes need to pause, clear our mental cache, and intentionally choose to begin again. Rebooting hope begins with small, deliberate actions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sometimes hope shows up disguised as a tiny yes. A yes to try. A yes to show up. A yes to believe that maybe, just maybe, things could shift. I think of my friend who’d been sitting on her business idea for years. She didn’t launch the whole thing at once. She didn’t overhaul her life. She simply said yes to taking one small step: joining a local workshop. That single action opened a door… which led to a conversation… which led to a collaboration… which led to her first paying client. She was willing to put in the effort, and put herself in the position to take the next step and then the next one after that.  Hope didn’t arrive for her as fireworks or a big change all at once. It arrived as a whisper and an opportunity. A nudge.A small yes. If you’re waiting for a big sign, here’s your reminder: big things are built from a series of tiny affirmations. Hope grows every time you choose to move one step forward. What’s one small yes you can give yourself today?

Today I’m going to do something a bit different. I want to share my 5 favorite things that I appreciate right now. It’s not an exhaustive list. I’m fortunate and grateful for lots of good things in my life. This is just a list of things that I find myself turning to often these days.  Columbus Public Library. I hope where you live you have access to a library like I do. Here in Columbus, it’s a great resource and I appreciate having access to books of course, but also other resources that help me with my business and even spaces I can use to meet up with friends and business peers. Breakfast with Kelvin. We kinda fell into this routine a while ago and I really like it. We cook and eat breakfast together most days of the week. It’s a great way to start the day, breakfast is the most important meal after all. Sweater weather. Copying the popular SNL skit is fun! I don’t mind cooler weather and even a bit of cold weather. I hate being hot, so the chance to have cool weather and pull out a cozy sweater or two is awesome. Being creative without judgement. I’ve talked before about my crafting. It’s something I do for me, a little creative outlet and I really enjoy it. What’s also nice is that I have given myself permission to try things I’m not good at without judgment. Believe me, my projects aren’t anything spectacular, and that’s okay.  Being part of a community of other women business owners. I’m fortunate to be a member in 2 organizations where I can connect with other women who are running a business. It’s a great reminder that we don’t have to do everything on our own.  What 5 things are working in your life right now? Don’t judge or curate. What popped in your head first? Life is filled with little (and some big) things that can allow us to ease up a bit and, embrace a bit of hope.

I LOVE a good to-do list. Maybe a little bit too much. I often create lists to help me get all the things out of my brain and into some kind of list that I can then see clearly.  What’ important? What can what? What do I need help with?  A good list can help you see what’s possible too. Not just things to do but things to appreciate and enjoy.  That’s the inspiration for this episode: I’m sharing a hope-to-do list.  Notice small joys. That morning light, the laughter, the kindness, hope grows in the ordinary moments we choose to see. Speak encouragement, to yourself and others. Hope multiplies when it’s shared out loud. Rest. Hope isn’t about endless hustle. It’s the quiet trust that things will unfold, even when we pause. Stay curious. Ask what if it works out? instead of assuming it won’t. Create something. A note, a meal, a plan, a dream. Creation is hope made visible. Reach out. Hope thrives in connection, in a text, a smile, or a “thinking of you.” Remember what you’ve overcome. You’ve already walked through hard things and found your way forward. That’s living proof of hope. Believe in better days. Not because everything is easy, but because hope insists that better is still possible. ✨ Keep this list where you’ll see it often. Hope isn’t a feeling we wait for — it’s a practice we choose, one small action at a time.

This has been a beautiful autumn where I live. It’s one of my favorite times of the year because it’s so pretty and it brings me back to memories of high school football games, and bonfires with friends and lots of other fall related experiences.  I get to pull out my favorite sweater and wrap up and it suits me in so many ways. I really love it.  It’s also a reminder of seasonality, the ever changing, forward momentum of all the things. Shorter days, colorful leaves, changes in the landscape, even the color of the sky looks different as we move from summer to fall and now it is nearing winter.  This is a reminder to me and you to embrace the season of life you’re in right now. I know for too long, I was always looking for the next season, the next thing, the next goal or job or big life moment.  It’s natural to want to look ahead with anticipation, but today I hope you’ll take a few minutes to appreciate the season you find yourself in, right now.  Acknowledge where you are and what’s good about it. How did you get here? Can you look back and recognize a few key choices that helped you along the way?  Who is in your circle of trusted friends and family right now? How do they help you and what do you appreciate about them?  When we can be comfortable where we are and grateful for what we have, we can also have the courage and confidence to embrace it, enjoy it and for a little while, really live in the now.  Tomorrow will arrive and there’ll be a time to look forward but today I hope you’ll be able to see how amazing right now is  for you.

Today we honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces. Service asks for courage, discipline, and sacrifice, but it also requires something quieter and often overlooked: hope. Hope that their efforts will protect others. Hope that peace is possible, even when conflict says otherwise. Hope that the world can move toward something better, one difficult step at a time. Veterans remind us that hope is not soft or passive. It's steady. It's resilient. It's the belief that the work is worth doing, even when the outcome isn't guaranteed. Service is never just about duty. It’s about believing in something bigger than yourself. It’s about showing up even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. It’s about trust, resilience, and choosing purpose over comfort. That is hope in action.

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” — Vaclav Havel This is one of my favorite reminders about hope. Optimism assumes the ending will be good. Hope says, even if it isn’t, the journey still matters. Hope is what lets us keep showing up, even when the results are uncertain. It’s what fuels creativity, connection, and courage, the quiet belief that what we do has meaning, even when the outcome is out of our control. We don’t hope because we know how things will turn out. We hope because it helps us make sense of why we keep going. It’s a reminder that the journey, the day-to-day things we do and care about and put energy toward are the reason. The doing is what brings the hope or sometimes it’s the hope that helps us keep doing the things. I don’t believe life is meant to be a constant struggle. We’re meant to find joy and happiness in the everyday things we do and see and experience in our lives. I know these days, things don’t always make sense or it’s hard to see the good when there’s so much turmoil. That’s when hope can sustain us, remind us that we can decide how we spend our time, our energy and where we put our focus. I hope today, you can choose hope and know that your efforts make a difference, even if you can’t always see it.

Hey friend, here’s your Daily Dose of Hope — a little reminder that you don’t earn extra points for making everything hard. Ease isn’t laziness — it’s wisdom. It’s choosing peace over perfection. So today, pick the simpler path. Say no where you can. Let someone help. Because hope has room to breathe when you stop holding your breath. Let it be easy. Even just for today.

Hey friend, it’s time for your Daily Dose of Hope. And this one’s for the part of you that feels like you’re somehow falling behind. You’re not. You’re right on time. I know it’s easy to look around and feel like everyone else has it figured out. You scroll, and you see someone launching something new, someone getting promoted, someone crossing the finish line you didn’t even know you were racing toward. And that quiet voice in your head says, “Why not me?” “When will it be my turn?” Here’s the truth —you’re not late. You’re building something that takes time. Some seasons are about sprinting. Others are about planting. You might be in your planting season right now — and that’s okay. Roots have to grow before anything blooms. The world moves fast, but your soul doesn’t. Your pace is not a problem; it’s your power. Every pause, every delay, every detour —it’s shaping you in ways the fast lane never could. So instead of asking “Why am I not there yet?” try asking, “What am I learning right now that I couldn’t have learned any other way?” Because one day soon, you’ll look back and realize — you weren’t behind. You were being prepared. You were becoming the person who could handle what’s next. You’re not late to your life. You’re right on time. And hope —hope is always waiting exactly where you are.

Hey there, it’s time for your Daily Dose of Hope. Consider this your quiet permission slip to begin again. You don’t have to make a big announcement about your comeback. Just start. Take the smallest next step — reply, apply, record, reach out. Momentum loves motion. And it doesn’t care how messy it looks. This is your reminder: You don’t need a new plan. You just need to begin again. Your comeback has already started — one small step at a time.

Here’s your Daily Dose of Hope — and today, you can borrow a little belief from me. If you’re doubting yourself right now, that’s okay. I’ll hold the belief for you until you’re ready again. I’ve seen enough people rise after the stumble to know this: Confidence can come later. Courage comes first. So keep going. You’re building proof every single day that you can do this. When you can’t see your own light, borrow mine for a bit. I’ll hand it back when you’re ready. You’ve got this. And I believe in you.

Some days, you’re just… okay. Not soaring. Not sinking. Just somewhere in the middle. And that’s actually a win. We live in a world that celebrates being “on fire,” but quiet consistency — showing up even when it’s not shiny —that’s the real magic. If you got out of bed. Answered that email. Kept a promise to yourself. You’re doing great. Progress doesn’t always roar, sometimes it’s just a whisper that says, “I’m still here.” Keep going. You’re doing better than you think.

Two hundred episodes. That’s a lot of words, a lot of mornings, and a lot of hope. When I started Daily Dose of Hope, I wasn’t sure how long I’d keep going—or if people would even want this kind of content in their feeds. The world can feel cynical, and hope sometimes gets dismissed as fluffy or naive. But here’s what I’ve learned after 200 episodes: People are more open to hope than we think. Cynicism isn’t the default—it’s just louder. Most of us want to believe that things can get better, that kindness still matters, and that our small efforts add up. Hope resonates quietly but deeply. People reach out—often privately—to say an episode helped them through a tough day, or reminded them they’re not alone. That tells me there’s a real hunger for positive, thoughtful content. We’re all looking for light. Consistency beats perfection. I’ve learned I can do things, stick with them, and let them be easy. Hope doesn’t demand flawless—it just asks for presence. Hope isn’t just a theme anymore—it’s a practice. A way of seeing the world that keeps me grounded, curious, and connected. Here’s to 200 more little reminders that hope is still here, still worth talking about, and still contagious.

Who was the first person to look at a fried piece of dough, covered in sugar, and think, “You know what this needs? Jelly. Inside.” That’s the kind of curiosity I want in my life. Someone looked at something already good — a donut! — and still imagined how it could be better. That’s not greed, that’s creativity. That’s the spark that keeps us moving forward, asking, “What if?” Curiosity is one of the most hopeful traits we have. It means we believe there’s more to learn, more to explore, more to delight in. It reminds us that discovery doesn’t always require a lab coat — sometimes it just takes a little wonder and a willingness to play. So next time you’re stuck, ask the jelly donut question:👉 What could make this even better? You might surprise yourself. And who knows — maybe your next great idea starts with a little bit of sugar and a dash of “why not?” Stay curious. Stay hopeful. And maybe treat yourself to a donut — for research purposes, of course.

Some days, the news is almost too much to bear. Images of war, suffering, and loss flood our screens, and we’re left holding emotions too big for our hearts — anger, grief, disappointment, helplessness. It’s human to feel all of it. You’re not broken for being upset, or for feeling powerless to change what’s happening. Those emotions are signals that you care deeply — that your heart is still tender in a world that can feel harsh. That’s not weakness. That’s evidence of hope. Here’s what helps when everything feels too big to fix: Pause before reacting. Take a breath. Step away from the endless scroll. The world doesn’t need your burnout; it needs your presence. Do one small thing that helps. Donate. Call your representatives. Offer kindness in your community. Action transforms helplessness into purpose. Connect with others. Talk about what you’re feeling. Collective care is how we hold the weight together. Protect your energy. It’s okay to limit your exposure to the news or take a break. Hope requires rest. You don’t have to solve everything to make a difference. Even small gestures — listening, helping, praying, creating, or simply refusing to turn numb — are acts of resistance against despair. When the world feels heavy, remember: your empathy is proof that light still exists. Hold onto that spark. That’s where hope begins.

After years of screens, schedules, and virtual everything, something in us is shifting. We’re craving in-person experiences again — real laughter that echoes, hugs that last longer than a second, eye contact that says “I see you.” It’s not just nostalgia. It’s hope. When we gather in person, we’re reminded that we belong to something bigger than our to-do lists and inboxes. We see possibility reflected in someone else’s story. We witness resilience not as a concept, but as a living, breathing example sitting right across the table. Connection fuels hope. It reminds us that we’re not alone in our striving or our healing. Being together — in conversation, celebration, or collaboration — reignites that spark that says, “Maybe things can get better. Maybe I can try again.” That’s why people are showing up for summits, retreats, coffee meetups, and dinners again. It’s not just networking or nostalgia — it’s a return to belonging. It’s the human heartbeat saying: I still believe in us. So when you get the invitation — say yes. When you feel the pull to organize a gathering — follow it. Every time we choose connection, we’re planting seeds of hope for what’s next.