I am lucky to live in a wonderful neighborhood called The Islands whose residents are as great as the community is beautiful. The Islands community is built around 3 small man-made “lakes” that finger off into many little residential coves, with its main road looping around all the lakes in a circle connecting all the mini-communities that fork off the main road within it. It is a welcomed oasis in a hot and arid desert part of the state.
I exercise by walking half the loop a couple of days a week to strengthen my now overused, once athletic knees and hips, but mostly to clear my mind. My, mom of 2 very active teens, wife of a fun-loving man-child, and a self-employed habitually searching entrepreneurial mind. During the mornings and early evenings on this loop, there are almost always people walking, chatting, jogging, riding, and giving neighborly nods and smiles.
On a day much like any other, on a walk a little later and darker than my usual time, I caught a glimpse of a flat heart-shaped object attached to a bush. I thought it must have been a cute art project a kid put there and almost walked right by it. During the pandemic, this route was even busier and many people left painted rocks along the path or chalk drawings with words of encouragement and unity. I had thought this may be a similar gesture that someone is bringing back to it’s still needed existence. Curiosity forced me to turn around to take a closer look and I read the words “I Need A Home!”. I was immediately intrigued. I searched the website under those words and read how special this heart really was and struggled with the thought, was I special enough to receive it?
I hesitated, but then untied it from the bush and finished my walk, thinking about the odds and timing of my find. I usually try to take little moments on my walk to enjoy how lucky I am to be in that moment and appreciate the little things that are often overlooked by our fast paced lives.
I am currently struggling with still not finding my main purpose in life, being unmotivated, uninspired, and not knowing what I want to be when I grow up, even though I’m 45 years old and have accomplished, what looking back, is a lot.
Finding this heart gave me a much needed pause and moment to reflect on the wonderful family and life that I helped create and am responsible for. Something that often goes uncredited. I realize I may not have found whatever it is I’m sensing I need to do next in my life, but finding this heart tells me I am on the right path.
To the person who put that heart there and left their love in the wonderfully stitched bright and colorful patterned material with a bright red, small but mighty whimsical heart, thank you. Your creativity is inspiring and your love is felt. Your simply intricate creation
