You Can't Close Your Heart...

As time goes on I find I'm getting braver and more overt with my drops.

This morning for instance, I left a heart with only a minute and a half to spare before catching a bus home. The drop was left near by the last drop, in a planter outside of a chocolatier with two ladies sitting in the window enjoying coffee and croissants right in front of where I placed the envelope.

You can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel
-Johnny Depp

Whether these ladies noticed the drop is really something I didn't pay attention to beyond noticing they were there. If nothing else they may have noticed the Bean (my youngest sprout) in my arms as I placed the heart beneath the topiary. She (the Bean) has got cheeks that don't end and they tend to attract attention. I placed the heart, took a few photos and walked quickly away to catch the bus home. All directly in front of the two customers and without heart pounding anxiety.

On the one hand I like the idea of anonymity in the interaction of finding the heart. On the other, I wonder if seeing someone doing something a little out of the ordinary; like carefully placing an envelope in a planter, on a bench or inside a dairy case before taking a few photographs and walking away; will invite a closer look at that envelope?

After the April 16 drop and the near witness of a finding, Being a little more obtrusive in the act of a drop feels easier to do. While the motivation for this project is to leave these positive messages and hearts behind to be found I can't deny that a little feedback, even as small as the idea that someone has seen the act is reinforcement to continue on.

So the project is evolving.

Feeling like a voyeur

Dropped at the bus stop on Hastings

So the last time I posted was just before the last drop. I try to post images on the facebook page as soon as possible after a drop so that if the heart is found there will be some evidence for the finder. If I can't get to a blog posting right away the facebook page is an easy and quick way to check in.

I did this drop with my daughters in tow. The two year old was oblivious to what we were up to, but the six year old was beside herself with excitement. What if someone found it while we were there? what if someone saw us "hide" the envelope? What if they asked us if it was ours? All the things that run through my mind when I do a drop spoken out loud and with the barely suppressed excitement of an excited child let in on a big secret.

We placed our envelope in the slats of the bus shelter and took some photographs. Then we moved a little ways away to give the drop some distance while we waited for our bus to arrive. We had a bit of a wait for our bus and I didn't want to crowd the drop in case someone did come along.

Someone did come along soon after, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest as I tried to get the six year old to act casual as a woman walked out of the bakery and over to the bench. She sat next to the drop and we were able to watch as she read, but did not pick up the dropped heart. Our bus came and we left for home.

I've lingered around after a drop a few times hoping to catch a finding in the act but this was the first time that I've been so close to witnessing a find. Our heart was not there the next day which could mean any number of things could have happened all of which I've listed in other posts here.

If you've found your way here from a found heart let me know. Follow this blog and or the facebook page, comment or just come back for another read sometime to see what where I've dropped another heart.

An Act of Faith

I've been on hiatus as you may have noticed from my lack of posting. Not everyone in my life is privy to this project other than a tiny handful who I've told because I thought it would interest them. Other than that, it's a little secret that I'm keeping.

The last few weeks have been super busy with life things. Family coming out to visit, my niece getting married and the havoc that follows all those things. On top of those some pretty personal and tumultuous drama that I won't go into, other than to say that all is sitting on marginally calm seas with more calm on the horizon. We are just finally getting back into day to day rhythms so back to the project.

We are on the two month mark of the project with on average about a heart a week being dropped somewhere with no feedback from finders.

The thought that I may be wasting time, waxed paper and pen ink has yet to seriously cross my mind. I say that, because it's a natural thing to talk ourselves out of putting ourselves out there. Yes the thoughts cross my mind but those thoughts are swiftly followed by other thoughts. Thoughts that tell me that putting my hearts out there with their small messages is an act of faith. Faith that someone out there will find them, read them, and have that mean something for them.

It may very well be that all the envelopes I've left out there have been picked up and immediately deposited into a recycling bin. With each drop I know that is a possibility. Just like starting a new friendship, or continuing well cultivated ones, there is always the possibility that what you put out there will be rejected, ignored or ripped up. We keep at it because those connections mean something, are worth something.

March 15 Heart Drop

My life takes place within the confines of the neighbourhood where we live, the neighbourhood where my daughter goes to school and periodically the grocery store and markets. This week is Spring Break for my daughter which means that We are venturing further afield but for the heart drops locations up to now have been limited to the places that I find myself in often. This means that sometimes I'll be dropping in similar locations and others I'll be dropping farther afield. Today for instance I'll be leaving a heart to be found in Science World and possibly another in Stanley Park later this week and again if we make it there; the garden centre. I think you get the idea.

Anyway, last Friday I revisited our local public Library and left a heart in the Poetry section.The Quote was from Bob Marley: One love, one heart, one destiny. It's a simple and beautiful poetic message of love, acceptance and peace.

Each heart quote that goes with a heart is hand written on a small slip of paper kind of like a fortune cookie fortune. I write the quote and who it's attributed to on once side and invite the person who finds it to like and comment on the facebook page or on this blog to let me know that it's been found. There's a lot of information to write on such a small piece of paper but I've managed to get it all on and I think legible. I could type them out and print the quotes and links but I like the intimacy of a hand written note for now.

While I'm on that topic, if you haven't seen the facebook page please do. Also I'd love it if you liked it too but no pressure; honestly.

As I've been moving forward with this project I've had a few ideas of how to expand it, and get more people involved. While I fiddle with these ideas I'll keep on keeping on. I'm patiently awaiting contact from someone who has found a heart but truly the act of putting them out there is what it's all about.

An Aching To Be Free

The heart I'm dropping today has a few lines from Depeche Mode's  song Halo.




Most of the quotes I've been using I've used because they said something about the heart that has struck a chord with me. This one is no different except that instead of being uplifting it has a bit of a melancholy feel to it.There's a taste of hope, an invitation to take that step towards something new.

I'll post pictures of the drop once it's out there