the first

When it gets hard and the weight of everything burns, remember You were the first to love this body and soul. Poem by J. Grace

Rest

Be gentle with yourself. After a day of giving, even the light needs rest. Poem by J. Grace

She is Courage

She is not a bag or a box To be shoved in a corner Or placed on a shelf She is insecurity She is imagination She is as strong as she is emotional She is a tender heart That needs to be held Not hidden Let her out She cannot grow into Courage if she

remember

When I start to doubt the strength of my hands and the reach of my arms I remember that I’m loved by a man who knows my strength and sees beyond the reach of my doubts And never lets me forget: how incredible how beautiful how strong I am. Poem by J. Grace

sparks

She didn’t wait for the sparks to catch on; She made her own fire. Poem by Poem by J. Grace

She Grew Love

Detail of “Waiting for Summer” by Christian Schloe She raised herself up one limb at a time, reluctant to make noise, afraid to cause a stir. Each movement bringing her closer the place where her courage was hidden–waiting. The little fears she allowed to have so much room began to shrink and from the space, she grew

Seeing Myself as Worthy

After spending days and days re-evaluating how I view myself, from what I think, to how I speak, about my feelings and my body even, I’ve decided that I need to start thinking of myself, my thoughts, and my feelings as important. As worthy.