Follow Your Heart

I know
Everyone won’t like
My poetry,
What I paint,
The art I create,
Or what I have to say.

I know what I do
Isn’t everyone’s
Cup of tea.
And that doesn’t
Offend me.
If it’s not for you,
That’s totally
Okay.

I am also well aware
That I am not the best
At any one thing I do.
But I do MY best
Doing what I love,
And I feel immense
Gratitude
When I get to share
My passions
With each one of you.

Writing poetry
And creating art
Feel like
Breathing air for me.
Both – are necessary.
Both – I feel deeply.

Making art is
Chasing joy,
Imagination,
Color.
Magic,
And beauty.
It’s paint-
Celebrating,
And dancing,
It’s energy.
It’s transforming,
And healing.

Writing poetry
Is the art of sorting
And processing life.
Like solving
A jigsaw puzzle
Of emotions-
With rhythm
And sound
And your own
Heartbeat
In an open diary.
Whether it’s
Reflective,
Nostalgic,
Complex,
Painful,
Confusing,
And messy.
It’s a beautiful
Art of raw
Vulnerability
And humanity.

What fulfills me most
Is human connection.
And doing my best
To be a beacon
Of light-
And inspiration
To others.
Because those
Who inspire me,
Make this life
Feel more freeing,,
With more purpose
And meaning-
And there are many!

I want to
Remind you-
That you don’t
Have to be
THE very best-
In order to be
A bright light
For those around you.
Be brave enough
To chase your dreams
And help make
This world
More vibrant just
By offering
YOUR best
At whatever it is
You feel called to do.
Following your heart
Doesn’t have to be
Perfect.
It just needs you
To keep showing up,
And keep following through-
And I really hope you do.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 4.12.26

TODAY IS A GIFT

Today is a gift
In this very moment
As you sit here now,
Breathing, seeing,
Feeling and being.
This- is living.
This- is the present.

Life is a treasure
To behold,
And to cherish.
No day is perfect
But every single one,
Holds something within-
A blessing or blessings
To relish.

Let perfection go-
And allow
Your life
To unfold
In the most
Beautiful ways-
As you follow
Your heart,
And listen
To that little
Voice inside-
Nudging,
And guiding you.
This- is your intuition
And your guides
Lighting the path,
And realigning you.

Allow your light
To shine
For all those
Around you
To see and to feel.
This- is the center
Of your spirit.
This- is love.
The truest
And purest,
Most beautiful part of you.

Today is a gift.
Celebrate it.
Gratitude is
Knocking
On your door-
Answer it.
Life is a mirror
Of what you choose
To project.
So, protect it.
Choose your
Words and your
Thoughts wisely.
And if something
Within this day
Doesn’t go your way-
Let it.
Change your lens,
Find your peace,
And accept it.
Happiness is a choice.
Remember that.
New opportunities
Are unfolding
Before you-
Open your heart
And be willing to listen.
Have faith
And trust in it.

Today is a gift.
Go live it!

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 12.22.24

You Can Overcome Anything

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.

Love always and forever,

Mom

Tanielle Childers©️9/23

Grab Hold –

As much as we’d like
to think we control
our future and our fate…

We don’t decide
when or how we will go,
much less, our final date.

I have become
very hyper-aware
of the moments-
and all I’ve been given.

One silver lining
to cancer, I suppose-
is I’ve realized
I’d better get to livin’!

Life isn’t perfect,
nor every day sweet.
But each waking moment
is a gift, and a blessing.

Soak up the minutes,
love hard, and be present.
Hold onto faith through the good,
the bad and the messy.

Have patience,
be kind, and accountable,
Treat your neighbors
as you would yourself.

Live now, live bold,
and laugh often.
And never put your dreams
up on that shelf.

Follow your heart,
don’t give up,
and keep going.
Money doesn’t equal success.

Chase your dreams,
inspire, and encourage.
Lift others up,
and give them your best.

Fill up your heart,
and it will fuel your spirit.
Live in joy,
And share your gift.

Time is precious,
and priceless, and finite.
Grab hold-
this life goes quick!

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 2.25.22