My summer garden has begun! Although cold spring rain and mountain snows are still taking place in Montana, the time has come. We are double blessed to have the patient arrival of Spring coinciding with the implementation of Phase One.

I find working with plants and flowers is stirring positivity and a sense of purpose and overcoming. Our town newspaper recently featured two of our local garden centers who are both preparing to open up. I love supporting small businesses like this. One of the garden center owners was quoted as saying, “Gardening provides a sense of hope – something to look forward to. Growing anything….it’s hard to describe, it’s something for your soul.”

Aha! That’s why planting my first little pansies feels so good. My soul loves beauty and the magic of watching nature smile back at me. I found wildflower seeds with names like Fairy Meadow and Butterfly Blend. It’s also wonderful to create something out of nothing. I am creating a “deck” in my driveway, which doubles as  the yard. My neighbor, who is awaiting the reopening of Yellowstone Park where he works, offered to help. Pallets are free and another friend produced a patch of outdoor “grass” carpet. A couple of chairs and my reading in the sun, tea with a friend or meditating parlor is being born.

I am realizing how critical it is that we remain hopeful in spite of some very difficult realities right now. Staying safe and facing those realities is important, but a hopeful outlook and any small act of creating will bend the curve towards a future brighter than before.

Are you feeling hopeful?