Please Join Us: A World Of Hearts

Simply place a heart around your home, upload a photo to share with others, and add where you are from. Together we will inspire each other with joy and kindness!

View the app

Note of Purpose:

“What are all those red dots for?” My sleepy-eyed son asked as he approached my desk. I had been checking in on the John Hopkins University Dashboard, viewing the pandemic growth of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Completely focused on my research and discovery, I was taken back by the innocence of the question and the curiosity of my child.

In our house maps are a part of our everyday life. We create them, we discuss them, and we enjoy geography as both children and adults. As my son has grown, so has his interest in my work and the work of my coworkers. “What’s an ecosystem?” he may ask. Another time asking, “are these UFO sightings real?” as we laughed about California being a hot spot for E.T.

This time however, the response to his question was not so laughable. In fact, this time my response was hard to stomach. “The dots,” I said, as I cleared my throat and swallowed hard, “represent people.”

At this point, our family had been isolated in place for 3 weeks. At first, I’m sure, it felt like vacation for my child to be free to roam the house, without needing to go to school. To him it may have felt like spring break, or an ever-extended weekend, but within time it became evident that something wasn’t right. He missed his friends, his teachers, and his classroom. Why weren’t we going to baseball and why did Mom cry that one afternoon when she burnt the only pizza in the house?

He leaned in closer to look at the dots.

“Do you remember what we talked about? Why we are staying home?” I gave his shoulder a sideway squeeze. “The dots are people that are sick. The bigger dots represent more people. The goal is to keep the dots small or in areas where there are no dots, keep it that way. That’s why we are staying home together, to keep our neighbors and friends safe.”

He nodded, side hugged me back, and then ran out the back door to go play.

I exhaled. So many dots.

It was in that moment I realized that I was grieving. Between the demands of my employment and home life, I too had been missing the very simple things I often enjoyed: a walk with a friend, an afternoon brunch, my desk at the office… All things that I took for granted each day that now seemed so untouchable.

As I watched my son drive his little trucks around the tree in our yard, I felt blessed in knowing we were healthy and protected. In that moment I also felt the emotional toll of all the dots. I thought of all of those impacted by COVID19 and the people that were sick, people that had passed, their families, and the people working to keep our world safe. I knew I needed to create something uplifting that would bring others joy in this worrisome time.

I had seen #aworldofhearts movement on social, where communities are coming together to share hearts in their windows, sidewalk chalk art, rose gardens, etc. and I saw the commonality of geography. I decided to build an app to share hearts around the world, for every heart has a place and a purpose.

It is my hope that through the A World of Hearts app, that we may culminate a safe space for those needing emotional uplift. In building this, I wish to inspire my son, while also inspiring you and your families as well. Please add your hearts and help us to find strength in acting intentionally to spread love across the globe.

View the app. Add your heart.

#aworldofhearts2020 #locationintelligence