
I woke up yesterday morning, at the tail end of a week that has repeatedly felt like a dream. Early mornings and late nights have seemingly folded into one another... We all know that feeling of opening our eyes, head lying on the pillow, and for a split second or two, not remembering whether we're just now going down to sleep, or if it's already time to get back up again. This week has felt like that, and I know I'm not alone.
It's also felt like a dream, because for the first time since relocating to Atlanta, I feel like I am moving closer toward something that I've been desperately desiring for six months: a deeper and renewed sense of community in my new home. And, the catalyst for that has been pretty simple: taking time to slow down and engage in deep conversations, even in the midst of trying seasons. This week, during a time when many are feeling an unprecedented degree of hopelessness and fear, I've found encouragement in kind people who were willing to open their hearts and meaningfully engage.

This week has also been dreamlike in another sense. In such a short span of time, I've seen my students blossom and demonstrate a renewed sense of energy. I've been personally inspired by the grit and resolve shown by those who are facing adversity in the midst of global tragedies. I've received opportunities to stand alongside some of my trumpet heroes, sharing the stage with them in a meaningful display of hope, one that also holds very personal significance to me and my family, within the context of the Cancer Blows movement. Powerfully, these musicians allowed themselves to show vulnerability, to lean into hard conversations, and to offer audiences the gift of hope.
Hope is a curious thing. It flies in the face of conventional Western ideology, that we must show strength, act preemptively out of fear, and silo ourselves away from our enemies. Hope says that, in spite of the obstacles before us and the setbacks along the way, we continue to envision a path toward a better future, and that we are better together. Hope allows us to believe in something greater than ourselves, even when it's hard to believe in much of anything at all.
I am grateful for the community that I'm finding here in Atlanta, and in the broader musical world. Thanks for the hope that you've given me this week.
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