crystal raindrops on windowpanes

sweet spring breezes perfumed honeysuckle and rose

new moon skies sprinkled silver with starlight

maple leaves of amber floating on an east autumn wind

book pages tacked onto yellow walls

pinky promises laced with elementary secrets

frost like angel wings veiling muddied gardens

rose petals pressed between softcover stanzas

and you,

made in the image of

the magnificent Maker of rain

the wondrous Whisperer of winds

the star-breathing, moon-molding Artist

the Shifter of seasons

the awe-inspiring Author behind every story

the perfect Keeper of Promises

the divine Decorator of this desert land

the patient Caretaker of creation

He who exhaled the universe into existence

and still desires your heart;

Yahweh.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

When I was a teenager, I was yelled at, a lot. I was told I was ugly, stupid, and unwanted.

It's hard to hear from a parent.

This parent was angry. Having never wanted children, she made sure I knew it and was gleeful in her insane hungover rampages, hungry for victims to her own misery.

It impeded me.

It took years of therapy to learn my own power in fighting against a tyrant. As I get older (I'm almost thirty - terrifying), I realize that I can do pretty much what I want, within reason. I can be whoever I want, no matter what anyone says. Even an authority figure with power over me. I can be free.

What's beautiful about this freedom?

Recently, I've made some big life choices. I moved and got a puppy. These are two things I never thought I'd do. I was always told not to be happy, that life is misery and then you die.

But what's cuter than a corgi?

The beauty in this world resides in overcoming the past, and pushing through to the present. Having dinner with friends at the new place, taking my puppy for a walk around the block. Nothing feels better than having strangers 'ooh' and 'ahh' at my adorable two-month old.

Nothing feels better than being free of what you thought you were.

To me, what's beautiful about life is that you can make it what you want. It gets easier as you get older. It took me twelve years of therapy to realize that I am a worthwhile human being, not useless, ugly, and stupid. I am my own entity.

What's beautiful about life is that it can only get more beautiful, the more opportunities to be happy you present yourself with.

It gets so, so much better. Remember that the haters don't live in a beautiful world.

But you can.

First and foremost.... if you ANYONE to talk to, reachout and that includes an invitation to hmu any time. I am 42 years into this life, have raised my fairshare of children into adulthood, and I am a therapist, with a special set of skills- my childhood and adolescence was layers of existential crisis, I was given up at around age 13 so... if you are down or having a bad day- offer open.

when the rain

pulls a silver curtain

over the sky

and the ground,

painting with steel,

or when you stare at

the polluted sky

and it makes

a vibrant sunset,

or possibly that

special place

deep in the woods

where society

seems far away.

even when your

mood is black

as the shining onyx,

it's easy to remember

that every color

no matter the

mood attached,

is beautiful,

and every swirling

rainbow of feelings

is necessary

to paint

a picture.

She was not the kind of girl

Who drew everybody’s eyes

Who captivated all who saw her

Like a breathtaking sunrise.

She was the kind of girl

Who had more books than friends

Who lived in literary worlds

And cried at each stories’ end.

She would look you in the eyes

And stand up for what she believed in

She rolled her eyes at insults

And grew a thick skin.

She would be there if you needed her

Would always stand by your side

She would lend you her shoulder

Every single time you cried.

Her smile lit up the room

And it seemed like it was just for you

She never cursed or cheated

And she always held true.

No, she was not beautiful,

Nor was she popular at all,

But her presence filled up every room

And she refused to become small.

Her beauty is all around us

It’s in the songs the birds sing to us in the early morning hours

In the blueness of the summer sky

In the fluttering of colorful butterflies

It’s in the soft buzzing of the bees as they kiss the flowers

It’s in the gentle flower pushing through the earth to unfurl herself before us

In the sounds of children playing in a park

It’s the way two lovers entwine their fingers as they walk slowly along a sandy beach

Beauty is everywhere

To see it

We just need to stop

Put down the cellphone

And live in

The real world

The fact that I’m still here, walking, breathing and living is beautiful. As a survivor of four attempts to end my life, i’m closer to finding what my purpose is. From the individual groves off blades of grass to the gentle breeze that sweeps in to refresh my lungs with new air and the cotton candy fluffed clouds that often alternate to shower us with the gift of being swept away and remade. The earth is a wonderful place but it being able to hold me, makes it even more beautiful.

The world is a beautiful place. It is full of places you haven’t seen, fruits you haven’t eaten and hearts you haven’t touched. The world is a beautiful place. You will find some of the kindest and purest souls who will make your broken heart believe in sunshine and bubbles and love again. There will come a time when you will never lose hope and will look forward to each and every day as a blessing in disguise. God has given you this one chance at life and it will never come back again. Every experience teaches you something new, something that you never knew. It helps you grow your wisdom beyond anything you could ever imagine. Don’t give up, this is just the beginning for you. Think of your loved ones and if not them, think of me. I don’t want to lose you because I have taken it upon myself to make you believe in this crazy, magical, wicked world once again. Make me your friend in lonely times, your shoulder to cry on a soul to rely on. I will be there for you when nobody will be. I will hold your hand and we will walk the path of peace together just as birds of a feather flock together.

I wish someone would have told me

When I was young like you

That life is going to ebb and flow

No matter what you do

There will be times when all goes well

Like the pain is going to end

But then it all comes crashing down

And you question life again

It starts a mere annoyance

Still possessing a little light

But then it becomes an aching pain

And you lose the will to fight

You will sit here in this sadness

So tired, lost and alone

Looking for the answers

Longing to go home

But when you realize that its not your time

That you have a purpose here

The foundation soon begins to shift

A universal energy is near

There is a spark inside you

That's longing to escape

And when it does, we'll feel your soul

The walls begin to shake

We all ebb and we all flow

Life is beautiful, you see

You will make a difference

And that will set you free

@asterick Write on.