Hearts: A lesson of life.

Here are photos of the various hearts I've discovered lately. I have had so much fun with the heart collecting. I've been posting a few heart photos on my Facebook page. My friends have been tagging me with hearts they have found and thought of me. One person has even dubbed me the "Queen of Hearts". I must admit I do like the sound of that! The heart above was spotted when BuddyTheElf and I took an afternoon walk along the brook and out to the marsh behind my home.

I spotted this heart one day while snowshoeing. After I posted this photo I discovered that there are actually two hearts in the photo! Do you see the little heart on the right hand side?The little twig reminds me of a wishbone as well! This heart is one of my favorites. I spotted this heart after a dusting of snow one day. Ever since my diagnosis, I have had to "slow" down alot and my hobby of finding hearts has given me a wonderful diversion from aches and pains, bad days and down days. What started out as fun has now grown into so much more. Most of my life has been hurry, hurry, hurry. From this diagnosis has come good...a wake-up call of sorts. It is okay for me to take more time and to enjoy what I have around me, to experience new things and most importantly appreciate what I have already, to see what is waiting me to discover and marvel over. For awhile after I was diagnosed I admit I spent ALOT of time worrying, whining and complaining. I didn't like the person that I was becoming. Then I had an "ah- ha" moment! All I had to do was look around me and see how very fortunate that I am. It has always been there. I just needed to learn how to let go and it was up to me and me alone to make positive changes and take chances. I can still get out and about, I have a wonderful husband who does so much for me that I cannot do as well as I used to. I have dear relatives and friends who are so supportive and caring. I've met wonderful people through blogging and Facebook who have now become an important part of my life. My thank you to everyone is to share something that is meaningful to me, a small gift from my heart in the hopes that it bring a smile to someone elses' day!

Here are two hearts in the snow on the marsh. I spotted the one in the upper left hand side first and then the wee one as I was getting ready to snap the photo. BuddyTheElf has learned to be patient with me while I stop and take a photo or two...

Here are two hearts that appeared today on the top step after I shoveled off the steps. We experienced a Nor'easter here in Maine today and to be honest I was less than thrilled to shovel about a foot of snow off the steps. I knew taking a walk or snowshoeing today was out as the snow was so deep and with the very high winds visibility was terrible. So shoveling the steps and path got me outside for a bit and for that I was rewarded with two tiny hearts.

Back to others finding hearts for me...there have been potato chip hearts, a heart-shaped tree spotted by a little girl in Hawaii, snow hearts, a green Nerd candy heart, a mussel heart, a heart rock left behind on a beach after the tide changed, a heart in a sidewalk and even a tiny blue heart in an ultrasound image! And in the mail a couple of days ago...a wonderful surprise...a beautiful, hand-made, red heart-shaped cup and saucer! I must admit it is a wonderful feeling to know that others are enjoying "hearts".

Do you see the heart in this leaf? So from my diagnosis a few months ago to now....the start of a new chapter in my life as well as a much needed new outlook on life, being thankful for the life that I do have and lots of wonderful friends who are on the lookout for hearts for me! I am so blessed. I have nowhere to go but UP!

Another snow heart, clinging to the railing on the steps!