LET GO Of the guilt That shames you away From allowing Your body to heal.
LET GO Of the need To constantly be moving. It’s okay to rest And be still.
LET GO Of the push To always be busy In a culture That tells you- You must.
INSTEAD, Give yourself permission To pause and reflect- Away from Society’s rush.
Take in some deep breaths And push them all out To release, Reground, And reset.
Tune out And take time To recharge In the silence- How quickly We all forget.
Allow the warmth Of the sunshine To rest on your face As you slowly return To center. This sacred space Is where healing begins- Because the outside world Cannot enter.
Jumping all in- In the face of fear. Finding the courage To make friends with it Instead of retreating- And fleeing. Having faith without seeing. The excitement of what could be- Is undoubtably liberating. Even freeing. But- Fear of the unknown Can, in moments, Be paralyzing, Unsettling, And panic-inducing- Letting go of control And trusting in God And in yourself To figure it all out- Can feel overwhelming And at times- All-consuming.
Let go. Let God. Be intentional. Be faithful. Feed the thoughts That feeds your future. And leave your fears to God. One step at a time. One deep breath At a time. Focus on making The next right decision. Keep following Your beautiful heart. For this is your moment. You have finally begun Your long-awaited Dream, mission, And the life you have envisioned.
I’m learning… What it is to have an Extreme duality of emotions In cancer survivorship. And that it’s okay To acknowledge and accept it Fully. Deeply. And honestly.
I am a breast cancer Survivor. I’m currently In remission- I have really great days- Where I feel confident, Positive. Hopeful. A small piece Of the carefree Light-hearted version of me. And yet- I still go through darkness. Really difficult times That feel extremely Isolating, depressing, And incredibly lonely.
I wouldn’t wish these days On anyone I love. It’s a very challenging Place to be. It feels like no one around me Really gets me- Not anymore. Not really. And I don’t want to drop the heavy On anyone around me. I’m happy they Don’t feel how I feel, But my spirit sure Longs for someone Who did- In these moments When I feel so sad and conflicted.
I feel guilty for feeling Ungrateful- When I know I should be thankful Because I’m still living- And I am- I feel both.
I’m beyond grateful – And I’m utterly heartbroken. I’m so angry- And I’m also glad. I’m so gracious for my body- For fighting And healing- And winning, so far- And I absolutely hate it. It makes me cry, And it makes me mad When I look in the mirror And remember What I used to have.
I’m learning Slowly. That it is completely okay To feel the extremes together- To grieve and to celebrate In the same conflicting breath. Because- As a cancer survivor- Every new day, Is another attempt To confront, sit with, and be okay With whatever this day’s Current emotion is.
Today is beautiful. Because I woke up Again. A new day. Another chance To live. To breathe. To feel my heart beat. Alive with love. And gratitude. Holding all the beauty Like golden treasures Of all our memories made- Together. … And the excitement That exists for all The memories Left for us to make. … I can’t wait.
The blue sky. The calm. The serene White, wispy brush strokes Of highlights Blending the white Into blue… The sun exploding In the east. Bright, bold And beautiful.
May this day Be filled with abundance And blessings For all of you!
Nestled in And snuggled up Basking in the peace, Blanketed within the glow Of the beautiful silence Just before dawn…
The early morning light Begins to rise… Ever so slowly Like a single flame Flickering gently- Growing and spreading Into an explosion of light and color Across the entire eastern skyline- God’s painting in real time- In the most profound And heartwarming way- Like a giant good morning hug Sent from the heavens Wrapped in sunshine And covered in love.
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.
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!
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.
I took a giant leap of faith, and followed my heart instead of listening to my fears. I went on a journey of art and healing with an amazing group of women that I’m now proud to call my friends. I stand in awe of our experiences together.
This is a poem I wrote after I bought my plane tickets. You should also know it took me 3 times of getting all the way to end where you confirm – before I actually did. The fear was loud, but my faith was louder. This was one of the most empowering experiences I’ve ever had. I’m forever grateful.
“Teotihuacan Feb. 2025 – Leap of Faith”
I just took A GIANT leap of faith. Scary! Terrifying actually! My heart is racing… And the logical Part of my brain Is bracing itself… And wondering why I just jumped Without a net To catch my fall- And yet Something Deeper within My spirit Told me To just answer The call. Told me I must! Told me to trust! Asked me to believe. Have blind faith in that Which you cannot Foresee! And my higher self Is applauding me, And celebrating My bravery- And rejoicing in The open-minded Parts of me Willing to Finally let go. Let go Of every self doubt, Every roadblock, And excuse That has been This barrier Enslaving me, And belittling me Since I was 19. Because My higher self Sees the real me. Believes in me. Sees my Unique qualities, My strengths, And every possibility Deep down Inside of me. Maybe- The lioness Within me is Awakening… And jumping Was just The beginning Of my trajectory- To inner glory. And the beginning- Of my NEW life story.
I’m terrified. But my soul Is on fire With a light Brighter Than anything I have ever felt Before. Something Has been ignited Deep within My spirit, At my core And I am ready And eager For ALL that’s In store…
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.
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.
You’ve loved me at my best- You’ve loved me at my worst- You’ve loved me equally, And unconditionally, You’ve loved me through Every trial and every hurt. You have a way of grounding me And calming my crazy nerves- You have a way of speaking Directly to my heart- And my spirit belongs with yours.
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.
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.
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.
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.
F it. FIGHT it. FINISH it. FIND a cure. FIND a way to THRIVE, despite it. And FORGET it, even if only for a moment.
FOCUS on HEALING and self-care. And know that it’s okay to FEEL like your diagnosis isn’t FAIR.
FEEL the big LOVE surrounding you, And all of the support rallying all around you.
FIND BEAUTY in the quiet moments. Remember what really matters and what doesn’t, and then let go of it!
Bid FAREWELL to all that does not support you healthily. And do what’s best for you- both physically and mentally.
FIND JOY in the small things. Keep FAITH and hope alive. Don’t sweat that, which you cannot control. Stop FIGHTING your tears. Allow them to FLOW, and then let it all go.
FIND and allow FORGIVENESS and grace, and practice both daily. Allow yourself time and space to meditate and pray, FAITHFULLY.
And FEEL your FEELINGS all the way through. But remember that cancer does not define you.
Give your anger a voice, and then kill it with kindness. And give your sadness a huge hug- Because sadness reminds us- that we’re only human, going through an extremely difficult human experience!
FIND your STRENGTH. FEEL your POWER. And dig deep for the courage to battle all the way to the FINISH LINE. And then FIND, rediscover and recreate the new you – and your new life… And I hope you choose to shine.
Stand tall alongside all of the other courageous warriors, cancer survivors, and thrivers- Who will continue loving and supporting you, FIGHTING with, and FOR you- and cheering you on for the rest of time, from the sideline.
And honor those who have sadly lost their battle by living your best life for the rest of your life.
You are more powerful than you know. And most importantly, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
I’m so sorry- I gave up on you. For being angry, Ungrateful, And judgmental of you. Despite everything You’ve gotten me through. So, this is me- Starting a new chapter- And thanking you. Moving forward, I promise to- Treat you better, And show you Unconditional love That you deserve- More than ever. The same love and grace You offer up To those around you. No matter what You think you see In your reflection- You’re enough. You’re worth it, And you’re beautiful, too. And even more so- Because of every flaw, Scar, and imperfection That makes you- YOU. You have survived Every obstacle, Every hardship, And every battle You were brought to. That says a lot About your spirit, And your strength Underneath. Hold your head high- And keep going- There isn’t anything You can’t defeat.
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 ART 