Leaning in to Change

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!

-Tanielle Childers ©️ Oct. 2022 💛🧡💜

Transformation

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