My Two Cents…

I woke up yesterday from a night of bad dreams, and the moment I opened my eyes, these words started pouring out of me and I knew I had to get them down in order to be able to let this go … for whatever it’s worth, these are my two cents…

The tough times
Aren’t meant
To break us.
They’re meant to
Shape and sculpt us
Into who we are
Becoming –
The next level
Of growth
In who we are
Meant to be.

The tears
We shed
Are meant to
Humble us,
And ground us.
A reminder for us
Of the kindness
And compassion
This world,
And people
Surrounding us-
Need.

We’re all fighting
Battles
Or health issues
Behind
Closed doors
Most people
Never see.

These days,
I would argue,
Most of us
Are often
Disconnected,,
Over-stimulated,
Rarely present,
And too busy
To process and
Heal from
All the things
That continue
To make our
Mind, body,
And spirit
Bleed…
Including me.

The overwhelm.
Our constant
Hustle and bustle-
Always moving.
This world
Is always in a hurry.
We’re so busy
Speeding through
Our days
From A to B
To C to D to E.
Just to get by.
Just to provide-
For our families.
And then-
Many of us
Are struggling to sleep,
And the hours of rest
We actually get-
Never feel like
Enough-
At least for me.

The mindless scrolling,
Binge-watching,
Numbing, vanity-driven
Distractions
Are carrying us all
Further and further away
From the true meaning
Of this life
And living-
Daily.
This frightening pattern
Is slowly killing
The very fabric
That connects us.
The deeper connection,
And sense of community
Is meant to support
And protect us.
As people-
We are more divided,
And more conflicted
Than ever before-
Slamming each other
Online in comments
Behind screens
And closed doors
Over disagreements…
Disagreements-
Over the muddied,
Skewed and
Extremely divided
Waters of corrupt
Media outlets and politics.
This division
Doesn’t suit us.
It’s gutting us.
Turning us
Against one another.
The hate
Certainly won’t fix this.
And I’ll be honest
When I say,
I don’t know
What the answer is-
But I do believe this-

We all need
To pause,
To reconnect
With ourselves,
To God,
The universe,
And our hearts.
We need more time
Out in nature.
More peace,
And quiet,
More time to
Think and breathe-
To reflect, meditate
And pray.
To sit and listen
To the silence.
Allowing ourselves
To reset
And to just be…
To be at ease-
To listen to the breeze,
Watching the birds
Flutter, soar,
And dance
Across the sky,
So effortlessly.
It’s live poetry-
In motion…
To just sit still
And watch the clouds
Form and fade,
Build up, roll in,
And release
Snow or rain,
Or allow
Warm sunshine
To shine through
The cracks
And down
Upon our face.
The raw beauty,
Of this world
And the wildlife buzzing
All around us
Is a gift to behold.
The awe-inspiring
Magic of our earth.
The power, the fragility,
And true honor
Of what it means
To breathe,
To be alive,
To be alongside
Our loved ones,
To be present,
And to feel heard.

We all want the same.
We all want better-
For ourselves,
For our children,
And grandchildren.
For our country,
And for each other.
Let’s all do better-
And be better-
For the higher good.

-Tanielle Childers 12.02.25

Grateful!

The pure magic
And beauty of this life
And this world
Is so profound
And powerful,
And suddenly
Becomes exponentially
More meaningful
When a test or tests
Call your current health
Into question.

The sky, the clouds,
The colors of the sunrise
And sunset-
The trees, the birds
And majestic Colorado
Snow-capped mountain tops.
The open fields
And still waters.
If we just pause
For a moment
And ponder…
Just how lucky are we
To be surrounded
By such magnificent beauty.
I’m continually in awe
Of nature’s tranquility.
In times like this-
The sheer beauty
Just hits me-
Differently.

Waking up each morning
And getting to rise
With the ones
That you love.
Getting to see them,
And tell them good morning,
And being able to
Show them your love.
And oh-
The pure magic
In their heartfelt,
And comforting hugs.
What a gift.
What magic to behold.
These simple treasures
Make us far richer
Than any amount
Of gold.

I am over the moon
Grateful
For this life,
For our family,
And all of our friends.
For our laughter,
And every moment-
Together.
For our memories,
Adventures,
And light-hearted
Shenanigans.
For the gift
Of this new day.
For getting to
Rise again-
For this moment
Right now,
For the air I breathe,
And for the strength
Of my body
Still carrying me-
Forward.
And onward.
I am grateful!

SO Grateful!

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 11.25.25

Dragonfly Eyes

To our beautiful son, Dason,
Who wasn’t meant
To stay here on earth…
I will never forget you
Or the day of your birth.

I honored your life
By delivering you
As if you were
To be born alive.
It was the only way
I knew how to show you-
Just how much love
We held for you inside.

In times of great sorrow,
You never cease to
Surprise and amaze me-
By showing up
In the most beautiful
And unexpected ways.

Today-
I walked outside
After a few days of
Feeling somber
And sad inside.

And the most
Vibrant dragonfly
Was laid to rest
Right at my feet
As if it had been
Perfectly placed
And was waiting there
Just for me.

My tears were instant.
A giant lump in my throat,
My heart skipped a beat.
I knew in that moment
It was you.
A giant hug from above
A gift of grace
And all the love
And comfort I
So desperately longed for.

I see you
And feel your spirit
Through your
Heaven-sent signs
And dragonfly eyes.
I am endlessly grateful
For you
And I love you
With all my heart
And bigger than
The whole sky.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 9.7.25

One Day

We keep saying
Our turn will come…

One day.

We’ll get to have
More time together…

One day.

Our days of adventuring
And traveling and living…
They’re coming…

Some day.

Soon.

It feels like it’s been years
Of waiting…
Of hoping and praying

That one day
Is just around
The next bend.

But truth be told,
I don’t know
How many days
I even have left.

Afterall, there’s no cure
For the cancer
That stole, not one,
But both of my breasts…

I keep worrying
About what if …
Just around
The next bend,
I’m out of ‘one-days’

And it’s the beginning
Of my end.

I feel desperate
And impatient
For that one-day,
That some-day
Kind of living –
Because we’re all here
Together … now.

But we won’t all be ….

One day.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 9.5.25

Triggered

Triggered-

By the photos

Posted online

Of all of you together-

Smiling, laughing,

Adventuring, and living it up.

Triggered-

Because there was a time

When I was right there

Beside you in the mix,

Sharing in all the laughs,

Jokes and shenanigans.

I miss it.

Triggered-

Because I still

Don’t totally understand

Exactly why it happened.

Only that it did.

And only that it remains-

Forever changed.

Triggered-

Because I’m no longer

On the inside.

No longer a regular part

Of your everyday lives.

And I still feel like

I’m stuck in the dark.

Wondering why.

Triggered-

Because so much

About my life has changed

Since overcoming

Breast cancer.

And the change in

Friendships-

Has been incredibly

Difficult for me to accept.

But I’m trying my best

To get it.

And even harder

To just let it.

I understand

That I’m not the person

I used to be.

I struggle to this day

To feel carefree-

Like I used to be.

But I’m doing my best

Every day

To hold my head high

And smile my way through

The sadness that overcomes

My heart when I am

Triggered.

-Tanielle Childers ©️8.31.25

Some Battles

Some battles
Just aren’t worth
All the tears that come.

Some might say
That all these patterns
Are too much
For the eye to see…
And I did-
Because that was me.

Until I realized
What the magnitude
Of my words to her
Might convey…

That she is
Too much,
Too bold,
And too different
For this world to see…
And to please tone it down
For all others,
And for the pride
Of the mother in me.

And that reflection
Stopped me cold
In my tracks
And broke my heart for her.
These patterns,
All of these
Beautiful flowers,
And this outfit
All of her own choosing
Are NOT too much
For this world
And me to see.

Rather-
They are
A breath of fresh air.
A palette of innocence,
And pure and simple
Happiness.
This outfit
Now makes my heart
Smile with joy-
For she is a force
To be reckoned with.
She is a beacon of light,
Kindness, love,
And quick wit.
She is smart, bold, fierce,
Creative, and beautiful,
And dances to the beat
Of her own drum…
And I will no longer
Tell her that her outfits
Are too much
For this world
Or for me-
Because her imagination,
And her bright shining spirit
Is everything
This world and I both need.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 5.9.25

Release

Last night I stepped outside my norm and this is what came forward … along with a poem that came directly after. This is for any and all who need to hear the same.

“RELEASE”

Release the need
For perfectionism.
Let go of that
Which cannot exist.

Instead-
Color outside the lines
With bold enthusiasm
And lead with your love,
Fire and grit.

Drop the comparisons.
You are not them,
And they are not you.
Your journey is not theirs-
And yours is for you.

Live your life out loud
With intention,
And just be you.
Reinvented you.
Passionate you.
Healing you.
Unapologetically you.
And be unafraid
To let the world see
The unmasked version
Of you.

For you are beautiful.
Just as you are-
With every story,
Every scar,
Every facet,
Every celebrated
Imperfection.
You are a force
To be reckoned with.

Your truth
Is your connection.
It’s the red thread
That unites us all
Behind unspoken words.
Speak up with courage.
Your voice is your power
And your story-
Beckons to be heard.

Chase your joys.
Follow your heart
And be led by the things
That ignite your light
So deeply within.

For that IS
Your purpose
And a sign that
The stars have aligned.
That you are on your path-
And your soul is ready
To dive in.

So release…
And just begin.

-Tanielle Childers©️ 3.9.25

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

I’m Proud of You!

I’m so proud of you
For getting through
Every hardship,
Every battle,
And every struggle
That came from
Every difficult storm
You walked through.

I’m so proud of you
For every part
Of grief you
Overcame.
For moving through
Every feeling
You felt,
For allowing
Your heart to cry-
As you
Stoically,
Quietly,
Or powerfully,
And painfully
Wept.

I’m so proud-
That when the timing
Was just right for you,
You chose
To finally
Let it all go.
Let go of your pain,
And suffering,
The anger,
And sorrow,
And everything
That no longer
Served you-
And in the same breath
You decided
To step outside of
Your comfort zone.
And you chose
Joy and happiness.
You chose to rise, and
To spread your wings,
In order to grow,
And glow
Into the new,
Courageous,
Powerful and
Radiant
YOU.

Shine your light bright
For the whole wide world
To see-
And to feel.
Choose to
Love yourself
A whole lot more,
And a whole lot better…
Please promise me
You will.
Please offer yourself
Forgiveness,
And allow yourself
More grace-
With even more space
For love, compassion,
And patience…
For doing your best.
For who you are
And where you are-
Right now
At this very moment,
And in this place.
Because-
You and I both know
That this life isn’t easy!
And I just wanted you to know-
That I think you’re doing great!

Keep going!

Tanielle Childers ©️ 11-24-24

Breast Cancer – Grief

It’s been a rough stretch-
Mentally.
I draw in a deep breath-
As I feel the clouds
Begin to lift.
This darkness-
Has felt so heavy.
This grieving-
Of who I was before-
Cancer.
And struggling
To accept myself
Unconditionally,
As I am now-
After.
So much was lost,
And I was happy
With who I was.
And I don’t yet see
Anything
That has been gained-
Out of who I have become.
If I’m being honest,
Breast cancer
Has made me feel
Less like a woman,
Weaker as a person,
And so much more
Sadness as a human.
I would not wish this
On anyone.
I have been
Profoundly humbled
By my life journey.
I understand
The fragility of life,
And the importance
Of moments spent
Both happy
And hurting.
I struggle to understand
The purpose behind
All that has been taken-
And I would be lying
If I said
There weren’t moments
Where I have felt
Like I have been
Forsaken.
But I will forge ahead
For my family-
And do my best
To hold my head high.
And I will do so
With as much strength
And hope
As I can find-
Cancer has taken
So much from me-
But I will never
Give it the power
To define-
The rest of my lifetime.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 9.5.24

Hope

It is up to each one of us
To somehow
Keep our hope alive.
And we will find it
In those places
Where our heart
Feels overwhelming joy
To thrive.

I find my hope
In a morning run
And in the vibrant colors
Of the rising Sun.
In the clouds
And God’s sun rays
Shining down
From up above.
I feel hope
When I give gratitude
For the blessings
I’ve been given.
I find Hope
In the beauty
Of life’s little things.
And In learning
A new life lesson.
Hope is there
For the offering
In those beautiful spaces
That make your heart sing.
May you find and feel
Hope today
In whatever
Your day may bring.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 2024

Not Every Season Is Meant to Last

I reach out
To hang out.
I long for old times
And friendship.
But each time
I feel denied
And somehow rejected.
And it triggers
This horrible sadness inside,
And I can’t help
But feel deeply affected.
I know that I hurt you
A long time ago-
I apologized,
And I’ve tried
To right my wrong-
But it’s forever changed
The way we once were-
And it’s become
Painfully clear
Over these last few years-
That I no longer
Really belong.
In truth, I’m realizing
The time has come
For me to stop playing
This same old sad song.
I love you forever,
And I always will.
Until my very last breath.
All those crazy, fun times
We had together-
Are some of my most favorite
Life memories yet-
I won’t bother you
To hang out anymore-
And I’m sorry
If I have felt like a pest.
I love you big
And I love you for life-
You’ll always be one of the best-

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 8/24

Life’s Littlest Joys

May life’s littlest joys
Make you smile in the moment-
May you find time today
To pause and take in
The beauty all around you.
May you feel peace and gratitude
For simply being present.
And for every blessing
That comforts, calms,
And re-grounds you.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 8/24

Wishing You Peace

May today’s sunshine
Come along and kiss you
Upon your cheek,
Remind you of life’s blessings,
And bathe you in its peace.
May the afternoon showers
Wash away your worries,
And may all of your troubles
Be fleeting.
May God‘s grace
Renew your spirit,
And remind you
Of His safekeeping.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 8/24

Dear Summa

It’s crazy how fast
The past
Can come flooding
Right back…
All the memories
Of yesteryears
And always wishing
You could still be here.
I remember your smile
And all the ways
You made me laugh-
All the years
Remind me of how long
You’ve been gone
But my heart still
Doesn’t know the math.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 8/24

Just Breathe in the Present

Little lights flickering-
Like fireflies
In the distance.
The sun-
Slowly tucking the end
Of this wondrous day- in.

I draw in a deep breath-
And then release it,
I close my eyes-
To pause and reflect.
And to rest-
Just beneath it.

There’s a powerful
Energy that breathes
Within the flowers, trees
And natural grasses-

They weave color and life
Across the earth’s landscape-
With such joyous delight-
For the masses.

Dancing and swaying
In the breeze-
With beauty and grace,
And shaking leaves-
In untethered,
And unfurled excitement.

Drinking in
The warmth of the
Glorious sun,
And newly fallen rain-
Relaxed and calm, and still.
And basking in the glory
Of pure enlightenment.

The serenading sunrises
And sunsets
Where sweeping pastels
Paint the sky-
Alive.

Dandelions
Making wishes
And planting
Seeds of hope
For brighter tomorrows-
A thousand times-

Gliding high-
With the wind…
In an effort to
Spread their magic
And a legacy-
Forever to be
Remembered by.

Twinkling lights-
And the subtle moon glow-
Our calming,
Heavenly night light-
Blanketing the earth-
With its falling stars,
And the sweetest dreams-
Trickling down to all-
Who still believe…
In the magic.

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 4.29.24

That Moment When-

That moment when-
Your tired mind
Can suddenly see-
The world,
And your current situation
Through a completely
Different lens.

That moment when-
Your mind shifts,
The clouds lift,
And the sun comes out
Welcoming you back home-
To your happiness.
Right where you belong.

That moment when-
The right words are spoken,
And your world suddenly realigns,
And begins
To make some sort of sense – again.
After having been in the dark
For far too long.

That moment when-
Gratitude sneaks back in,
And kisses you
Softly on the cheek.
And you smile in return-
From the inside, out-
Remembering
Just how sweet
The littlest things in life
Can be.

-Tanielle Childers © 2.21.24

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

Opened Wide

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.

Tanielle Childers ©️ 5.29.22

The Circle of Life

The circle of life,
the cycles of time.
Sweet coincidences,
synchronicities,
and tender moments
with our 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
that 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 the breeze.
The mountainous, the tropical,
the frozen, the desert,
and the plains.
The earth in all it’s wonder,
and majesty with every
imaginable type of terrain.

Take in the
changing of the seasons,
holidays, and celebrations
of every type.
Life is short, so be thoughtful,
and always be kind.
Live now, and love deeply.
There is no redo or rewind.
Be humble, and gracious.
Forgive, and let 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,
and at times unbearable.
That’s just the cold,
hard truth of it.
But the cycles of life
are precious, and breathtaking,
and 1000 percent worth it.

The circle of life,
the cycles of time.
I’m so very grateful,
from the bottom of my heart,
for each one of you.
Thank you for being
such a beautiful,
and bright part of mine.

-Tanielle Childers © 4.27.22