Why The Yellow Heart Project?
Coming up with a website name that is meaningful and speaks to the goal of the our mission is no easy task. It takes brainstorming, writing, erasing, ruminating on, reaching out to others for suggestions, thinking on ideas, praying on more ideas and allowing the words to speak to oneself (or not and then rule them out!). This was indeed THE HARDEST part of creating this site for me.
Thank you to those who gave suggestions, namely my dear mom, my incredible coaching teammates and my friend and website developer, Lisa Hackle, who listened intently to ‘my why’ for the website and shared ideas based on my passion and intent.
What’s intriguing is that The Yellow Heart Project was the LAST of the ideas to be considered. As I sat with it – not quite satisfied with all the other wonderful possibilities – it started to come to life and speak to me.
Here are some pieces and parts to the inside scoop on the meaning behind my website.
Yellow
For as far back as I can remember, yellow has been my favorite color.
It has always held feelings of positivity, warmth, hope and most of all JOY. In our earthly world, it is marked with these qualities as well as optimism, fresh energy, and happiness. It exudes an illuminating essence and effortless innocence and it seeks to uplift. It is a color with an impactful spirit.
Heart
Such a profound symbol, the word ‘heart’ evokes so many meanings and emotions that we could speak about forever on end.
In literal form, we cannot live without our physical heart. It is the organ that literally pumps life to our entire body. The center of human emotion, the heart refers to a person’s character. It is used to explain a kind person, extreme sincerity, to have a great liking or affection for, and the most important or essential part of something.
Project
Our prayer does not necessarily conclude when we say, “Amen.”
Many years ago, Bishop Pevec of the Diocese of Cleveland delivered a homily to the congregation at the Sacrament of Confirmation of which I was in attendance. He spoke of the idea of ending our prayers with the words, “Open Prayer,” with the meaning that the prayer does not necessarily conclude when we say, “Amen.”
That struck me profoundly, to the point where I remember and use it to this day. Open prayer is a reminder to us that the prayer for which was are saying is ongoing. In the same way and with my goal for creating this website, the word 'project' speaks to me as something that is ongoing…without an end. A process, a journey, something that will continue to forge forward throughout my lifetime. The needs are continuous. This is a long-term project that may not even conclude in my lifetime.
And so, when we blend these three important words together
~ YELLOW, HEART and PROJECT ~
therein lies the meaning and purpose behind my website:
Providing others with an avenue in which to joyfully give of themselves and what has been ‘given and gifted’ to them in this life and blessing organizations that mean so very much to me to further their mission...organizations who lead and function with profound, specific and deep purpose.
About Kate Kelly
Kate Kelly is an native Ohioian and Christian who lives life with her husband, two teenage boys and three goldendoodles, one of which her family adopted from The Be Like Josh Foundation. She serves the Northeast Ohio area as a Realtor® with integrity, character, patience and kindness and very much feels called to the work she does. Kate enjoys engaging in meaningful volunteer work like The Yellow Heart Project which fuels her life with deep-seeded joy.