This world- Ravages my heart. The hate, The anger, The war, Blowing lives- And families Wide apart. Why? What for? There are better Things to focus on- And live for. What about Love, And peace, And forgiveness? What about Taking the time To understand One another- And what their Story is- In this? Our differences Don’t have to Divide us. They could be An opportunity To see the world Through a different lens- And provide us- More knowledge, More power, And less fear. We must come together And unite as one. With a willingness To listen to the hurt That comes- With living. We are all battling Some kind of sorrow That weighs Heavily upon our hearts. Let’s be more kind to One another- More patient. Less quick to judge- Lest we fully Tear our beautiful World apart. We desperately Need to treat each other And our earth with more Tender loving care, And consideration… And there’s no better time To start- We CAN change it. What are we all waiting for?
Life is An ebb and flow- Of change And letting go. A rearranging- Of old routines And goodbyes From what You used to know. And this- You MUST do In order to welcome The new you. You must Brace yourself- To embrace Your changed life, To see it all In a new light- In preparation For this new chapter, And a changing Of the tides… And you might find- That you admire The stronger you More than- You could have Ever imagined. I know that’s A tough realization To try and fathom… And that’s not to say- There won’t be days Where you miss The old you, And what used to be- See… We are human, And we seek comfort In the familiar. We love to reminisce In the days when we- Remember… Happiness, bliss, And laughter. We wish We could hold onto The precious moments We’ve captured- With our loved ones And friends. But this BIG life change Isn’t the end. We must find the courage To reinvent ourselves And our lives, And be willing to let go Of old familiarities- For growth happens When we refuse To give up so easily. We must strive To find and feel Adventure And excitement- In this newness. Taking in And feeling grateful for- Each moment And everything We’ve been blessed with. Change is so- HARD. Incredibly hard! Believe me, I get this. But if you can Learn to begin again… Your end Can blossom- Into something beautiful, Magical and meaningful. The end Of one chapter- Might just be The beginning Of a different kind of Happily ever after… Just keep going!
Dedicated to my kids … because life is never easy – and not without change. And because I want to make sure I pour my heart out in its entirety while I’m still here….And I want my words to continue speaking to their hearts long after I’m gone. 💛
“You CAN Overcome Anything”
The truth is You CAN handle Whatever comes your way- No matter how big Or how hard- The life change. You don’t handle Everything all at once- Or all in one day. You handle it In baby steps, And long, deep breaths. You handle it- Moment by moment. Just make the next Right decision- And do your best. Sometimes- You handle it- With tears and talks And late night texts. You handle it- With lots of hugs, And I love yous. You handle it- With naps and walks, Movies, ice cream, Self-care, laughing, Praying and gratitude. You handle it- With those Who have your back- At every turn. Just keep going… Lean into the change- And always- Learn. You handle it- Little bit by little bit. And as you begin To adjust to the changes- You can gradually Let go of the heaviness- Or the overbearing weight of it. And even if you never Fully get over it- You CAN get through it. You ARE strong enough. You ARE capable. And I believe- With all of my heart- That you CAN do it. I love you- With everything That I am- And for as long As I am able to… I promise To hold your heart- And love you Through it- No matter what. You are capable And strong enough- To get through- And overcome The hard stuff.
I cried for you- I held you close. I felt your spirit tremble. I was sorry for everything You were up against- But I also knew It wasn’t anything You couldn’t handle…
Breast Cancer came And stripped me Of my identity.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t struggling- Mentally.
I am still reeling From all I went through Physically…
And still healing From the cancer aftermath Intricacies. It’s tricky.
There’s just so much I feel like I have lost from this…
And yet, in the same breath, I’m incredibly grateful To everyone who was there And got me through it…
But I’m grieving Everything I used to be- Half of my self-image Was ripped from me.
My beautiful hair Came out in clumps. My eyelashes disappeared. And the most feminine parts Of me were stripped away. It’s hard to feel like yourself again when Everything has changed.
My hair is growing back in, Ever so slowly, But strangely. When I look In the mirror now, I hardly recognize the person Standing in front of me.
I look deeply into the eyes Staring back at me- The same eyes I have looked into, And out from My entire life…
And I see so much sadness In that little girl, My inner child, Hidden away Behind those walls Deep down inside of me.
I want her to know That I’m so proud Of everything She’s overcome. I want her to know- She’s beautiful No matter what This life has done.
And even if She no longer Sees it within herself, She has way too much Life left to live To put herself Up on that shelf.
I want her to keep fighting And growing- Through her own inner turmoil- I want her to know that Some of life’s most beautiful Things sprout up from A single seed and lots of soil.
I want her to stop building A fortress to keep the world out- Instead, I want her to feel and pour Her beautiful broken heart out.
I want her spirit to soften Instead of growing bitter. I want her to feel loved In spite of her scars and her flaws- For they will only make her better.
I want her to feel powerful In spite of her weakest moments. And I want her to Spread her wings and fly again… And release All the pain she tends To hide the closest.
I want her to see and feel The magic of this world again. And I want her to know That this battle Isn’t where her precious life ends… It’s where her beautful New chapter begins…
Breast Cancer Kicked me down- From diagnosis To doctors appointments, To consultations- And further testing. From big surgeries To healing and resting- And then, just when I was feeling strong again, It kicked me back down- And I laid lifeless After my very last Chemo round… And when I thought The worst was over, It blindsided me, And knocked me further- Down to the ground… And God brought me To my knees. Reaching for me. Holding me, And humbly Reminding me Of all the healing I have left to do. The emotions That have pooled- Of all that has happened. I must now- Begin to work thru. My cancer days are Behind me- But in front of me Lies a heavy blanket of grief- The cancer aftermath- The emotional rollercoaster. The forever hangover, And the reminders That there are no do-overs. The loss of what I once was- Before cancer took Those parts of me. And the new reality Of what now is… The new ‘survivor’ me. The traumas, And inside wounds I must now tend to. My broken heart- Just doesn’t hold The same magic it used to. My recovery is far from over. There’s no end game. No end date. But the cancer is gone, And life should be great. Except that it’s not. And that makes me Feel guilty- More times than not. The future feels Haunting, Overwhelming, And daunting. It feels defeating, Sorrowful, And sad. I feel angry, And in moments- Stark raving mad. It’s hard to wrap My head around- The magnitude Of all I’ve been through. And no one around me Understands the depth Of anything I’m feeling Or going through. I’m just back to living As if everything I just went through Wasn’t anything. Except that it was… And the sadness, And mood swings, And feelings Are horribly isolating, And deeply Heartbreaking. But I’m still here Doing my best. Reminding myself daily That I’m blessed. Because I am. But underneath it all- I’m still struggling. More than I care to admit. My life has forever changed And I’m not convinced That I’m better for it Yet.
A soft, gentle breeze Rustles the crackling leaves From the surrounding trees. They sway back and forth Gliding across the blue sky, Dancing ever so lightly- On the wings Of the cooler Autumn air- Making their journey Back down to earth. This is a season Of transformation. A time of letting go, And for some – A time of rebirth. The closing of a window, Another chapter. The shadows of summer Fading- Faster and faster. Warmer days Drifting away, And cooler temperatures Greeting us at sunrise, The brisk autumn air Beginning to freeze Under the twinkling night sky. The time of shorter days, And longer nights. Warmth from The afternoon sun Occasionally beckons Us all – back outside And we bask In bliss and gratitude- Delighted by the Colors, and beauty in The changing season. Fall has arrived, And winter isn’t far behind. A time for deeper reflection, Looking within, Slowing down, Cozying up, And leaning in- To change. I am thankful For every fleeting moment And memory made. My family And our time here Together Is everything!
I’m searching High and low- For the rainbow In my new normal. Crying, praying, Pondering, And wavering Between hope And hopeless. Between faith And why this? Feeling all the weight, and strain, And bulk of this- New world I’m staring into. A long road ahead Of healing, And reeling, And struggling To stand tall, And strong again. I feel like I’m fighting Against the wind. But I always fight To win. I’m weakened, And I’ve been Hit hard By chemo treatment. My daily struggles Are no secret. My dignity Has taken a big hit. And I’m right in The thick of it. Hair loss, weight gain, Stiff, painful muscles, Twitching, sensitive eyes, And Menopause – Overnight. Tissue expanders, And fluid retention. I’m down at the bottom Begging for redemption. Breast Cancer Is a disease and a terrible life infection A life changing direction, With deepened introspection Of who and what I am at my core Because everything That once was- Is nothing like It was – before. I must do Everything Within my power To find the rainbow After this storm. I must set my ego aside And find the light In my new life- My new norm. For there is beauty To be found In every life cycle And in every living form.
Unveiled My new set of eyes- My new perspective, Opened wide- On my own precious life. They cry more. They crave more. They hold more- Life inside the lens. They feel more. They’ve seen more. They know more- Truths that aren’t pretend. They radiate gratitude To their ultimate capacity. They overfill and spill-over One by one by one With pure love, And transparency. They see life’s flaws- And quickly dismiss them. They witness faults, And feel love, And forgiveness. For we are only human. They see love and kindness- And they light up, And sparkle with a brightness. They see pain, and age, And a weakened body Struggling to stand upright. But they offer grace In the face of defeat- Knowing this sight- Won’t be her last fight. They see a new fire And a fierceness Behind her tired gaze, And they raise it- For cancer Has seen its final day And there’s no time Left to be wasted. Get busy planting every seed And pray to watch it grow. And water your hopes Your dreams, Your family, and everything That matters to you so. This life goes by faster Than the blink of an eye. And my new eyes Are opened wide.
Colors and words sing and dance to the rhythm of my heart, my spirit, my being. They become the ultimate expression for my life journey, my perspective, and my feelings.
I create art and poetry from the purest part of who I am – at my core. In all the moments when I feel lost, alone, and afraid, I try to remind myself of who I was – before.
Before all of the hardships, life traumas, and loss. Before I grew up, and my childhood innocence was lost.
I’m still that little girl deep down inside, Staring at the world with wonder, and mesmerized eyes.
I still get excited about lightning and thunder, and rainbows after the rain. I still love to jump in puddles, stare up at the moon, and stars, and make snowmen on snow days.
I still love to lay down and stare up at the clouds in the sky, daydream about life, and what it would be like to fly.
I still get excited for fun in the sun, and playing in the warm water. I still feel so much love inside my heart just to be my parents’ daughter.
I still love to camp in the mountains, go for hikes, and make smores around the fire. I love to live, and I live to love, create art, write, teach, and inspire.
I love to give homemade gifts because those were my favorite to get growing up. I love to spend time around those dearest to my heart because memories fill up my cup.
I love to bake homemade cookies because my grandma’s were my favorite. I love westerns and football on Sundays because that’s what my early days were made of.
I love the smell of lilacs in spring, my grandpa’s garage where he worked, and my grandparents’ swimming pool chlorine. My joy and happiness in every memory will forever make my heart sing.
I love to remember all the ways I love and adore my life, And I’m still that little girl deep down inside- who can’t wait to go play outside.
The circle of life, the cycles of time. Sweet coincidences, synchronicities, and tender moments with loved ones by our side.
Beautiful memories that taste of love, and magic, and carry us for a lifetime.
New beginnings, and the excitement of new chapters, and adventures. New life entering this world with the promise of continuation, and elation, and getting to watch them grow. Loving, protecting, and encouraging them as they go. Our children bring the promise of light, and hope through life’s constant ebb and flow.
Life and loss throughout our time here- reminds us of life’s greatest treasures, and the value of all We hold dear. Our moments are a gift- priceless and tethered. Our loved ones who have gone on Live in our hearts, and throughout our time here forever. This life is precious, and perfectly imperfect throughout each, and every day. This world is incredible, awe-inspiring, and should be coveted, and protected in every way.
Take the time to take in- the sunsets, sunrises, snowy, and rainy days, clouds, and endless blue skies. The glow of the moon, and the milky way. The stars that twinkle and shine. The animals, mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, and ocean tides. The flowers, the trees, the birds, and the bees. The forests, the beaches, the sand, and ocean breeze. The mountainous, the tropical, the frozen, the desert, and the plains. The earth in all it’s wonder, and majesty with every imaginable kind of terrain.
Take in the changing of the seasons, holidays, and celebrations of every type. Life is short, so be thoughtful, and do your best to always be kind. Live in the present, and love deeply. There is no redo or rewind. Be humble, and gracious. Forgive, and learn to let things go. Learn every lesson presented. You’re never too old to grow. Laugh loud, and laugh often. And humor your way through it. Life is good, bad, meh, and at times almost unbearable. That’s just the cold, hard truth of it. But the cycles of life are precious, and every experience worth it.
The circle of life, these cycles of time. I’m so very grateful, from the bottom of my heart, for every one of you. Thank you always, for being such a beautiful, and vibrant part of mine.
Breast Cancer I am 1 in 8. Blinded by the diagnosis, and still coming to terms with accepting this as my fate.
I could ask, “Why me?”, and go to a sad, dark place quite easily. But that is a question- that will never be answered. And staying there would rob me of my power- Indefinitely.
Instead- I choose positivity. I choose hope. I choose faith. I choose humor. I choose to find the things that make me feel happy, rather than focus only on all the difficulty. I choose gratitude. And I choose my attitude. Daily. And intentionally.
Breast Cancer treatment- is a BIG mountain to climb. A giant obstacle- directly in front of me. And I am facing it head on, and riding the waves of change, and the side effects of every treatment with as much grace as I can, to the best of my ability. Overcoming this- And sharing my story and my journey along the way- is part of my life destiny. And I believe that wholeheartedly.
Breast Cancer- Why me? I will never know the reason. And I will never ask. This is my life test, and I’ve been called to task. I am 1 in 8. And I will overcome. I will do my best to keep my chin up through this adversity, and my battle WILL be won.
Breast Cancer affects so many. It’s shocking when you’re in the thick of it. Giant hugs and honor to all who have been impacted – by this enormity. I stand among the countless women who have been down this road before me. And I look forward to standing with them at the finish line, as a survivor with a story.
This was written the day my chemo port was placed, and the night before my very first chemo treatment. I was terrified of all of the unknowns. I leaned into God at every scary turn and it was everything I needed and more – to get me through it. May this poem find those who need it and offer up all of the same to you in your time of need or for someone you love! Love, light and giant hugs to all going through their own life battles right now. May we become beacons of light in the eye of the storm we’re in, to give hope to all those who follow a similar life journey! 💗💗💗
Laughter is the best medicine – so don’t forget to laugh as often as possible to get those endorphins coming your way. Stay strong!
God’s grace- is a glorious place. A prayerful, and meditative state- filled with peace, unconditional love, and safe keeping. Releasing, And unleashing me from all that burdens my weary, and tethered mind- to fearful, and unkind thoughts- that slowly rise up to the tip top. Becoming louder And more prominent, and dominant than my faith. I pause in reflection- And feel God beckon me back- to trust in Him completely. To not fear this road I see in front of me. But to believe in Him, And to seek the beauty, amongst the rubble He has lovingly bestowed upon me. I must always retrace my steps- back to the quiet, prayerful space- when I feel lost- And He will come to greet me, and I must lean in with everything I am- to learn every lesson He is teaching me. I feel renewed by the power of faith He has restored within me. He refuses to give up on me. God’s grace is everything. Even through all of these life trials, and tribulations- I am humbled and blessed by the outpouring of God’s greatest kindnesses, and I am wholeheartedly, and profoundly gracious. I will do my very best to remain steadfast, and courageous- in the face of- my greatest challenges. God’s grace- Is the most glorious, and peaceful place. Where my tears of gratitude stream freely. Where my heart is overcome by His eternal, and everlasting love for me. God’s grace never ceases- to amaze me. His amazing grace always finds me in the dark, and reaches out with his undying love- to once again save me…
I am so very grateful for this beautiful life. For the brilliant sunsets, and the early morning sunrise. For the epic Colorado blue skies, that transition poetically into night.
For the moon that glows, the twinkling stars that shine, and for the afterglow of the moon- burning brightly into our daytime…
For the storm clouds that rise to the heavens- or gently roll through. For the pitter-patter of rain when it drops- For all of our life memories, and my loving thoughts of you.
For the snow when it falls, and the intricate wonder of snow flakes. For snuggling next to you- when I’m cold. And waking beside you- when the light of the early morning day, breaks.
For the sweet morning bird songs, that sing of spring and rebirth. For your comforting hugs when the sting of this life- hurts worst.
For the soothing sound- of your deep voice that calms, and relaxes my worry. For the quiet moments spent with you. When life pauses, and we let go of the hurry.
For your tender, loving kisses, and I love you’s. For our barefoot, mountain wedding, our custom vows, and I do’s.
For paddleboarding side by side in the hot summer sun. For camping, hiking, night fires, and outdoor family fun.
For jogging alongside me with our littlest in tow. I love and adore every moment with you, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.
I am so very grateful- for this beautiful life. For all of our family and friends, our children, and for you- right by my side.
Today- I took a walk with God. I talked to God. I cried with God. I asked why, and what for and how come? with God. I pleaded with God. I prayed to God, and then I waited in silence – for God to answer me.
I waited patiently, and quietly. I breathed in deeply, and exhaled forcefully. The tears, and life’s let-downs poured right out of me. Some days are downright hard- mentally. They’re messy, and they catch me- off guard, and unprepared. But these days are there- to remind me again… that timing isn’t up to me. as to when- or how this life works out for me. So I breathe in deeply- Again. And I turn my faith right back to Him. This is God’s Plan. God’s got me. And I’m down on my knees waiting patiently. Faithfully. I’m praying silently. Believing, and trusting blindly… in His timing. In His glory. In this life story- that He’s lovingly laid out for me… This is my journey and there’s peace in knowing that ultimately- God’s got me… In ALL things. along every step of the way. Every minute of every day, God’s got me, and He loves me. This is God’s plan and He has answered me this.. I must put my full faith Into Jesus- Nothing less. Because- He knows best… Always.
Life’s most precious moments- are fleeting. My heart is alive and well, and still beating.
I’ve been busy living every minute- to the fullest. In the quiet moments, I am grieving. But in the face of it all, I remain upright and stoic.
I may crumble in the dark- but God brings me right back to His light. I may get angry at the journey that lies in front of me. But God is holding my hand tight.
I didn’t ask for this, and I’d rather not have to do it. But God brought me to this- and He will bring me through it.
I choose to set my sights on every silver lining that lies before me. I choose faith over fear, and I hold onto hope with all the courage I have- even while I am mourning.
I believe wholeheartedly that our life journey is for a reason. We may not understand our hardships or life difficulties- but we must remain steadfast, trust in Him and keep believing.
I will give my all- to be a beacon of bright light for all who may go down a similar life journey. This isn’t me going into battle. This is me going through some tough-ass moments, letting go, big personal growth, and so much learning.
Cancer does not, and will not ever define me. I will rise and face the music directly in front of me, bask in God’s healing light, and breathe in peace, as I begin the painful process of leaving this cancer behind me.
There are painful, Angry moments. In the in-between. When I scream, shout And curse my way Through this grief… When I am weak. When I feel small. When I fall- All the way… Down.
Grace Only finds me Again…when- I am ready.
When I give in- And give it all Right back to Him. When I kneel down, And pray… God shines His everlasting light Down upon me. Radiating His love And blessings All around me. And it is then…when- I know and feel That everything Surrounding me, Dumbfounding me, And humbly Grounding me Will be okay…
But grace Doesn’t find me Every waking day.
It is up to me To go looking, Crawling, climbing Or falling… My way back To trusting in Him. Again, and again, And again.
I give my heart, My love, My faith, My trust, And my gratitude To Him.
Believing In His healing, And In His timing More than mine. And I will keep Fighting, Persevering And overcoming My plight. I have cancer- But that Doesn’t define My life.
Tree of life- Rooted, grounded, And founded On love. Built with our hopes, And dreams, And a future team of- Unified strength And rising above- The challenges, Battles and difficulties We’ll face. Together, we’re better For life’s uphill race.
Beautiful beginnings. A family- With children In the making. Each one precious, Each birth, breathtaking. In awe, overjoyed, And so overcome- By the miracle of life, The power of love. So much gratitude, And appreciation For our family who Surrounds us, Grounds us, And blankets us In their prayers. Together, with God, We will always Rise above Life’s many layers.
For seasons of change, They will come. And they will pass. A steady stream Of normalcy, And time racing by Too fast. Taking moments For granted. But knowing- Normal never lasts. Life can change, In the blink of an eye. Tell those you love- And that you Love them for life. Reach out and hug them. Hold onto them tight. Count your blessings When you’re with them, And be grateful- For every moment Of this magnificent life.
Generations of our ancestors, Rooted, grounded, And founded On an abundance of love. Our Tree of life. Our beautiful family. Eternally grateful to our Heavenly Father above.
A major life change- Unfolding swiftly Before me. Each day- A new wave, And an attempt At a brave face- With this tough, New reality. Breast Cancer, Has completely Dumbfounded me. It’s astounding- To me… Just how fast The Cancer Center Moves. With their patient’s care, There is no time to lose. Testing and directing you, Collecting results, Analyzing and presenting Everything They know. Offering their expertise, Comforting words, And best of all, HOPE. The cancer- Must be removed, And the time Is coming now. And my job As a patient Is to prepare myself… And I will- SOMEHOW. A mind-numbing Place in time, And so surreal. Some moments feel Much more- Like a dream, And —- it seems Almost impossible To swallow Or even digest A mere fraction of this- The magnitude Of all that is- Happening So fast. I’m tapping Into my inner Strength and courage, Hope and faith, My sacred space. But I do not And will not Feel sorry for me- Only uncertainty For all that is coming, And all that will be. For whatever reason, THIS— Is part of My life journey. A new chapter Of learning- Healing, And letting go, Overcoming, And BIG growth For me- Spiritually. Putting my full faith Into God- To carry me When I am tired, And weary. I feel in my heart Of hearts, That all will be okay… But I worry- Most about My beautiful family. And how THEY Are going to cope, And manage Around me. I MUST AND I WILL Get through this! For this— Is just a BIG bump In the road. This cancer- May be as fierce as a tiger, But I — I AM a fiercer fighter. And with the heart of a lion, I will prove That I am MIGHTIER!
TANiELLE ART 