Chase the Light
When I sat down to write this, two thoughts came to mind. One was about the value of a childlike mindset—finding joy and beauty in small things, and having the courage to set goals.
Not always big ones—just the kind that help us grow. To chase the light. To stop letting old patterns or fear of something new (like spinach) hold us back.
The other thought was about dandelion seeds— how they float like feathers in the wind—
which reminded me of a story I used to read to my students: Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna
(yes, that Madonna—just pretend you know who she is). It’s a simple story with a powerful message.
One misunderstanding, one careless moment—and suddenly the feathers fly. Truth gets twisted. Dreams unravel. Some relationships don’t recover.
I’ve been there.
We all have.
But some of us learn to face what’s broken—to apologize, to reset, to begin again.
Because once words—or hopes—or people—are scattered, they’re not easy to gather back.
And once doubt or fear settle in, the light feels farther away.
That story reminds us: truth and purpose don’t shout. They stay quiet, even while the noise swirls around them.
But truth, goals and light endure— in those who show up with quiet integrity, in those willing to start again, even when the light is dim.
We all come to that edge—between what was, what could have been, and what could be.
And the truth is: light doesn’t wait. It moves. It reflects. It fades sometimes.
And sometimes, yes, it’s too late. But when it’s there, it’s what pulls you forward.
Moving ahead won’t always bring what you thought you wanted. Sometimes it brings something better. But staying stuck? That’s where peace fades—and dreams go quiet.
Children often understand this best—they believe in kindness, in second chances, in truths that don’t need to be loud to be real
(even if their voices rarely are, ha!).
Not every story ends neatly. Not every mistake needs unpacking.
Sometimes it’s enough
to learn,
to forgive,
to grow,
to let go,
to do good -
And to see the beauty in the light. - Brenna
Poem: Touch the Light
Along banks where flowers gleam,
The stars held still, the world gave space.
She wandered where the wild things grew,
Beneath moonbeams, soft and true.
She chased a laugh; she chased a dream.
The petals leaned to see her face,
A dandelion, bold and bright—
She touched one bloom—a golden spark—
That lit the sky and stirred the dark.
No thunder roared, no grand parade,
Just wonder quietly displayed.
It shimmered soft, then took to flight—
A thousand seeds became the night.
No map, no rule, no need for might—
Just joy in bloom,
Her heart alight.
For where she laughed and where she stood—
The world grew brighter.
She made it good.
-Birds of a Feather Art Patisserie-
It’s amazing how certain songs or stories can stir deep feelings, even if their specific narrative doesn’t perfectly mirror our own experiences. Sometimes, the raw emotions they explore – the challenges, the longing, the hope – resonate universally. When I think about artists whose work profoundly touches the human heart, Madonna often comes to mind. She’s a master at conveying complex emotions, whether through iconic pop anthems or even a children's book like "Mr. Peabody's Apples," which carries such a powerful message about how easily words can scatter like dandelion seeds. Themes like "forbidden love," often depicted in lyrics or dramatic stories, highlight the immense complexities and sometimes heart-wrenching difficulties we face in relationships. It brings to mind those moments in life when misunderstandings fly like feathers in the wind, and truth gets twisted, leaving dreams unraveled. We all encounter situations where relationships don't recover, or where doubt and fear settle in, making the light feel so much farther away. It's a testament to the profound challenges we navigate, whether in personal connections or when chasing our biggest dreams. But what do we do when we're in those difficult spaces, when the path feels uncertain? This is where the true essence of chasing the light comes in. It’s about finding the courage to face what’s broken, to apologize, to reset, and to begin again. Just like the poem mentions, even when the stars held still, and the world gave space, she wandered where the wild things grew, chasing a laugh and a dream. The journey isn't always about grand parades; often, it’s about the quiet wonder displayed in learning, forgiving, growing, and letting go. In those moments of emotional turbulence, when life feels like a complicated set of lyrics, remembering the value of a childlike mindset can be truly transformative. Children often understand kindness and second chances intuitively. They believe in truths that don’t need to be loud to be real. This perspective encourages us to find joy in small things, to appreciate the flowers that gleam along the banks, and to see the dandelion, bold and bright, as a symbol of hope. One tiny bloom, a golden spark, can light the sky and stir the dark, reminding us that even when seeds scatter, they hold the promise of new life. Moving ahead won’t always bring exactly what we thought we wanted, but staying stuck ensures that peace fades and dreams go quiet. Instead, we can choose to touch the light, letting our hearts alight with renewed purpose. It's about remembering that truth and purpose don't shout; they stay quiet, enduring even while noise swirls around them. This resilience, this quiet integrity, is what pulls us forward, making our world grow brighter, and helping us make it good. It’s a personal journey to embrace the light, find inner peace, and keep setting those goals, no matter how intricate the melody of life becomes.
