transformation

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

Release

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

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

Teotihuacan – A Leap of Faith

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

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…

-Tanielle Childers ©️ 11/24

This experience exceeded my expectations. I went in with an open heart and I came away with so much more.

There is so much power and healing through art, writing and meditation. I am determined, now more than ever, to somehow help others do the same! 🩵

Leah has another trip in July if you are interested.

I’m Proud of You!

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

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

I Am Not the Person I Used to Be

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

I am not the person
I used to be-
And I have been slow
To accept
And fully embrace
That this IS the story
God has written for me.

My darkest moments-
Have taught me to see
A deeper meaning
In the light,
And this life.
And when my battles
Grew harder,
I began to
Better understand
The power
Behind my fight.
Crying even harder-
About all of the
Most beautiful reasons-
Behind my why.

I am not the person
I used to be.
I am still-
A work in progress,
And learning so much
About the new me-
Daily.

When you have been stripped
Of physical attributes
You once identified
Yourself by,
You get to the good stuff,
And are humbled and reminded
Of all that really matters-
In this life.

I am not defined
By the darkness
Or the obstacles
I overcome.
But I must choose
To rise again and again-
To become-
My knight in shining armor
That slays the darkness
By growing into-
A better human.

I am not the person
I used to be.
But I am becoming
The person
I choose to be.
I am millions
Of sparkling lights
That dance across
The night sky-
I am the morning sun
Peeking over the horizon-
Bursting with
Magnificent colors
At sunrise-
Alive with hope.
Dancing with joy.
Giving gratitude-
And fighting
To keep shining
My love and light
From the purest
Parts of myself
Inside.

I am not the person
I used to be.
And I am finally ready
To accept the new me-
With open arms

Leaning in to Change

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

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!

Poetry by Tanielle Childers

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.

-Tanielle 6.20.22