hope

Hogan's Hope on Stories That Empower

Connie was diagnosed with a degenerative nerve disease. She was introduced to a pup that was neglected, abused, beaten and starved. Connie saw opportunities that were endless through his eyes. She realized that there were no boundaries to his love and hope. This gave Connie inspiration to try. She came to learn hope and not give up. Connie shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom:
- you are worthy of true love
- through our suffering, we develop perseverance
- perseverance leads to character
- character leads to hope
- let's strive to see our trials and tribulations as gifts
- great blessings belong to those that are sad
- the only way to multiply love is to divide it
- offer unconditional love
- be kind to yourself and others
- love yourself no matter what
- accept yourself despite your differences and because of your uniqueness
- believe that everything is possible for one who believes
- with hope, anything is possible
- children have pure, untarnished souls
- accept challenges with the confidence that you can succeed
- there's a difference between happiness and joy
- joy fills our hearts
- share hope with others
- accept the things we can change and those we can't
- being different makes us special and gives us strength
- be open to find hope in the most unexpected places

AUTHOR PHOTOS-7 (1).jpg

https://conniebombaci.com 
https://www.facebook.com/ConnieBombaci 
https://twitter.com/conniebombaci 
https://www.instagram.com/conniebombaci 
https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/connie-bombaci-1ab84b6a?trk=author-info__article-link 


tags: Connie, Bombaci, Hogan's, Hope, writer, author, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean
https://storiesthatempower.com 

When I Am Old

Clarence_RayofSun_cropped.jpg

God shines down on our Clarence during his last days with us.

I received this from a friend... it's just lovely XO.

When I am old...
I will wear soft gray sweatshirts...
and a bandana over my silver hair...
and I will spend my social security checks on my dogs.

I will sit in my house on my well-worn chair
and listen to my dogs breathing.
I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...

When people come to call, I will smile and nod
as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
...the ones so beloved of the past
and the ones so beloved of today...

I will still work hard cleaning after them,
mopping and feeding them and whispering their names
in a soft loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat,
like a jewel, and I will be an embarrassment to all...
especially my family...
who have not yet found the peace in being free
to have dogs as your best friends...

These friends who always wait, at any hour, for your footfall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a God,
with warm eyes full of adoring love and hope
that you will always stay,

I'll hug their big strong necks...
I'll kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper in their very special company....

I look in the mirror... and see I am getting old....
this is the kind of person I am...
and have always been.

Loving dogs is easy, they are part of me.

Please accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives...
they love my presence in their lives...

When I am old this will be important to me...
you will understand when you are old,
if you have dogs to love too.

-Author Unknown

Clarence + Mama_Sept2006.jpg