I found this heart while on a walk in Hermann, MO, USA. The timing was interesting because I usually go for runs and wouldn’t have noticed it, but on this day I decided to walk instead. Upon first seeing the heart, there were several things that were meaningful to me: it was the day after what would have been my beloved Grandma Verona’s 111th birthday (she passed in 2017 and would have participated in this project); in a similar pursuit, my stepdaughter and I paint rocks to hide and rehide around town; and ladybugs are a sign of luck especially meaningful to be best friend. I’m on my first sabbatical as a professor — professionally, a time to shift focus from daily hassles to big, meaningful long term projects. This can be difficult as a career woman in my mid-30s! So, I’m interpreting this sweet heart as a reminder to slow down and focus on the most important things in life (family, friends, community, and health). I am honored to be connected with this global community. ❤️
