One of Emily Dickenson’s most famous poems “Hope”’ begins with the line: “Hope is the thing with feathers–“. She then articulates hope, like a perched bird, that sings and uplifts the human spirit in both sweet and troubled times.

It’s a lovely little poem that attests all humans are capable of hope and reminds us that if we can find hope–we can endure any earthly experience.

This week, like an excitable bird, my brain disease fluttered and flapped until I lost my balance, fell hard in my kitchen and split my elbow open.

To Dickenson, hope is a thing with feathers. And being that my ornithology soars like a woolgathering penguin, I recognize hope can also be found in the grounded human spirit.

I believe hope is heroic. 

I believe hope is not for the weakhearted woolgathers.

I believe hope is limited only by our imagination.

I believe hope is the product of small acts of persistence.

I believe hope accrues over time.

I believe hope = perspective + gratitude + courage

I believe our capacity to create hope will help us rise off the kitchen floor and tend to our bloody elbow.

And I believe hope is a thing that weathers.

If we’re committed to “Do More in 24”, we will need hope. Especially in times of adversity and confusion. And we cannot gaze upon hope with our binoculars behind a window. We must engage with hope and leave a trail of hopecrumbs that will nourish us, guide us when we’re hopelessly lost. 

My brother recently shared the song, “This Year” by The Mountain Goats with me. He said he thought of me when he listened to it. After listening to it, I thought of you. I thought about how you are the source of your own inspiration. And sometimes we need a good song–or a good poem–to remind us just how inspiring we are. 

Be well,

Jay

One Line, One Love with Author and Leadership Coach Ed Brenegar–Episode #3: Freedom Within Boundaries

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If you haven’t heard yet… my friend Gail Boenning and I recently launched a podblog called, One Line, One Love.

OLOL is a unique listening and reading experience that will inspire everyday writers, who dream of writing, to pick up their pens and write one line at a time.

This podblog format (a hybrid of a podcast and blog) is for everyday writers who–like me–often need a creative boost, a scrap of encouragement, and practical advice to unleash the writer within. Each episode consists of five wide-ranging, writer-focused questions and a weekly writing prompt.

Please check it out! And please share with any writer friends or anyone in your life who has ever considered picking up the pen.

Amazon Order Link!

Ordinary Hero is now available in hardback and available, upon request, in local bookstores or libraries, even if your local bookstore or library is in Peru.

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Warm greetings to everyone who found me on the University of Pennsylvania’s Ataxia Clinic’s website! Thanks for stopping by. I have ataxia and though I’m not a doctor, I hope my words comfort, encourage, empower, and serve as good company on your journey.

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January Book Promos for You:

Are looking for inspiration? Are you searching for a better version of yourself?

This month I joined literary forces with some best-selling authors in an awesome book promotions. Click the link below:

New Year. New Books!

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Jay Armstrong is a speaker and an award-winning author. Despite being diagnosed with a rare neurological disease, that impairs his movement, balance, eyesight, and speech–Jay presses on. The leader of the Philadelphia Ataxia Support Group, he hopes to help you find joy, peace, and meaning in life.