For much of my life, I carried a quiet ache I didn’t fully understand. I knew I was hurting, but I did not always have the words for it. Something inside of me felt unsettled, as though childhood pain had planted itself deep in my spirit and continued to grow, even when I tried to ignore it.

I recently stayed with friends in Portballintrae, a coastal village in Northern Ireland. On one rainy day, I was watching the wind and waves from inside our cottage. I soon became aware that at any given moment there were both potential challenges and signs of hope—it all depended on where I put my focus and how I interpreted what I was seeing.

There is something mystical about the moment you see a rose about to burst open and reveal its divine beauty. It looks and smells like hope and can bring you closer to God's love and comfort. Give yourself a moment with this reflection on finding new life outdoors.

Where in your life are you holding onto something that no longer brings life, and what might become possible if you released it? Listen to this heartfelt story to inspire you to answer that very question.

Beauty meets the needs of our soul. When there is a deep longing for beauty, there is a deep longing for God. In the middle of a deep disappointment, loss, or stressful situation and desperately wanting a connection with the Divine, the invitation is to look for one piece of goodness around you.

How many consecutive days have you spent living in a human-made world without reconnecting with your first mother, Earth? Do not judge your answer; just notice. Give yourself time to pause and go outside. Be open to re-connecting with Mother Earth.