Gazing out the dusty window, she watched as the wind danced with the strands of tall grass in the field beyond her small home. The sway & the tease of the wind swirling through & round & back again, in an elegant dance of wistful joy, made her heart feel calm.
She imagined a deep ocean, where the surface seemed to ebb & flow as one body. To her, fields of grass always resembled oceans when the wind blew through them.
The sunshine only made her view better, as it gave the appearance of glitter sprinkled on the grassy field, welling up a sense of hope & wonder & playfulness as the light spotlighted the dance between the wind & grass.
The room where she sat was dimly lit & dusty, a faint smell of mildew hung in the air around her. The tension of responsibility loomed, as the bustle of morning activities went on in the rooms beneath her. Her parents & older siblings were engrossed in the chores for the day, seemingly unaware of the wonder beyond her window.
The window was her escape. The window was her portal to a world of imagination & wonder.
From her view out of this small round window in the attic, she could see the vast dancing field in front of her, the tall line of tress beyond it, & she could only but picture in her mind the magical secret that she kept hidden from the world, hiding behind that line of tall trees, seemingly untouched & unnoticed by the rest of the world around her.
She would go to venture out there today.
She felt drawn to its mystery & curiosities.
Her life needed a sprinkle of wonder & awe today.
But first, she pulled on some clothes fit for an adventure, which to her meant a billowy pastel purple gown & a halo of spring flowers atop her curls. Shoes were optional for adventures, in her humble opinion.
So, as she stepped barefoot down the stairs & down the hall, & as her parents & older siblings hustled about in the constant fray of responsibilities & stresses for their day, she slipped out the door unnoticed & snuck out to that dancing field of grass, where she made no delay in sprinting through the soft grass that tickled her toes.
Carefree & eager to visit her mysterious discovery once more, her heart swelled as she excitedly reached the line of trees that kept her mystery hidden from those around her home.
This was it. This was her moment to step into the wonder once more.
Hesitating momentarily, she mused over the thought that every visit to this mysterious place left her wondering why no one else seemed to notice it or to even venture past this line of trees that now loomed curiously above her.
She took a deep breath to steady her excited nerves as she stepped into the shadows, where only a short walk through the dark wall of trees led her to a bright clearing.
Here, she could see it… the most beautiful place she could imagine ever seeing in her entire life.
Ahead of her spread out a vast field of simple, small flowers, as far as the eye could see. The flat earth before her was lush & green & speckled with delicate blooms.
And there, in the center of the field, afar off, was the curious wonder that always forced a moment of pause, as wonder & awe & curiosity filled her small heart.
The tree.
But not just any tree. This tree twisted & turned, its branches stretched out wide & yet curled in a fanciful twist of intertwining patterns. It looked like something out of a fairytale… or a painting… or pure imagination.
It was unreal. It was fanciful. It was amazing!
She stared in awe… her eyes sparkled as she soaked up the view & all at once felt drawn to race toward the tree, excited to visit her small, mysterious hideaway from the world.
As she drew nearer, she could only manage a slow advance, too intrigued & inspired by its wonder to rush.
Now in the center of the flowery field, she looked up & let the magic of the moment swirl around her, the breezes playing with her hair & refreshing her entirely.
Her small hands reached up. She let her small fingers graze gingerly along the rough surface of the tree bark, that somehow felt like rough velvet.
And as she glanced upward, she could see the small opening in the branches that led to her own private hideaway.
Impatient to wait a moment longer, she took hold of a low branch as she steadied her barefoot feet on the trunk, preparing to make the short climb toward the opening that glittered & sparkled from where she stood.
Ducking into the hole, it seemed even brighter inside, within the dense weave of branches.
Little drops of dew were suspended in the air, floating above her head like tiny bulbs of glowing light.
Fanciful trinkets from unknown origins were set around the inside, each in varying pastel colors of intricate design.
She crawled in further & sat cross-legged once inside, distracted once more by the wonder & amazement that flooded her heart. Whenever she visited this tree, she always felt like all of her troubles seemed to vanish.
She felt safe & full of hope & joy.
She knew, while in this tree, that things were going to get better.
She knew that this moment of wonder could overshadow any fear or dreariness that threatened her heart.
Inside this tree, full of enchanting wonder, she could relax & just enjoy the moment of peace that seemed to encapsulate her world, in its presence.
She only hoped that she could learn how to bring this same feeling of refreshment & joy & wonder to her family & to the world she encountered along the way of life.
As the scenery began to drift away, she awoke in bed as an adult… remembering fondly the dream that had graced itself upon her mind while in restful sleep.
She wiped the sleep from her eyes, smiled from the memory of that fanciful dream, & rolled over, pulling the comforter toward her chin, wishing for that wonderful dream to whisk her away once more.
Coming Next Week
Check back on Monday morning EST for some more regularly scheduled encouragement & I hope you enjoyed this month’s special feature post, shared every last Thursday of the month!
A Note from Michelle:
If you would like to hear more of my story, check out the “About Me” page. And if you would like to hear how I found my lasting source of HOPE, read the “Hope Is Found” page, on this site. I hope they are an encouragement to you! <3
Also, make sure to “Join My Tribe” by adding your email to the top bar & clicking “Join My Tribe”. This gains you access to an extra weekly dose of encouragement from me in your inbox, along with the link to each week’s new post! I can’t wait to do this journey together!!
Weekly Special Spotlight:
Each week, I will feature an item that is changing lives. These pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Truth Earrings
These incredibly light earrings are made with genuine local capiz shell.
Artisan Information:
In the Philippines, finding employment as a woman in poverty can be extremely difficult. Poor working conditions, lack of job security, & unfair pay are often the realities. Through your purchase, these women are receiving an income, health care, & social development programs. This allows these women to realize their potential & pursue their dreams in a safe environment. You have the opportunity to change lives!
Purchase this piece & empower a woman in the Philippines!
Shop Here, OR, Email me at michelle@michellehydeonline.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!
