IDENTITY of hope for things to come

Robin, Erithacus rubecula by Anselmus Boëtius de Boodt - c. 1596-1610

In my adulthood, I began to notice the prevalence of robins. For a while, a certain robin who resided just outside of my office would tap on my window every Sunday as I sat at my desk. I admired his song, his warm orange breast, his small and delicate shape, and his insistence on bothering me. Out of curiosity, I researched robins and discovered that they are symbols of spring - of renewal and new beginnings. Most likely the robin saw his reflection, thought it was another robin, and pecked at it to establish his territory. However, I understood this little guy to be a reminder for me to remain in hope and to live with optimism about the world and my own life. His territorial behavior reminded me that the joy of hope is something worth fighting to protect and preserve. I love robins, and I now appreciate the reassurance they give me to stay the course and rejoice in what is to come every time I see one.

All of the artwork in the background on this site is the work of William Morris (1834-1896)