If hope were a pail

What would fill it to the top?

Brimming and spilling with love that’s nonstop?

But when it spills, what would that entail?

A bucket full of hopelessness

Empty, hollow, rusting from the inside out

Wondering what the joy in life is all about

For so long, Your positive energy has been completely spent.

You’ve experienced too much heartache

Lost too many people that you love.

Broke & beat down - every day you are shoved

Financially stressed, unhealthy habits formed, one too many a mistake

Thus buck is massive, impossible to fill with hope

Especially when you don’t know what goes into such a thing.

Is it the promises of something new or when a morning bird sings?

Yet you find your hands empty, with only the handle to grope.

One breath at a time. Deeply inhale your favorite scent.

Warm lavender, tantalizing vanilla, or bright cherry blossom

Take a moment to pause, just to smell something awesome.

It’s as simple as breathing in familiar to make the worry relent

Drip, Drop - what’s that you hear?

The splashes in a bucket begin to drizzle

Sure it’s not a lot, but more than you had, it’s a little.

Realizing progress is being made brings you cheer.

You wake up one morning when a smile finds your lips

Reminiscing while gazing at a picture on your night stand

Or maybe recently, someone held your hand

Then you hear the plopping of more hope drips

It dawns on you slowly, much as hope does

That it’s not one swooping action, accomplishment or day that brings happiness

It’s tiny moments every day and practices that alleviate stress

Don’t try too hard or do too much - just focus on filling your bucket more than it was.