today i choose a grateful and open heart. i will embrace these moments with curiosity, and seek clarity when my old stories cloud my ability to invite new experiences. i will choose to gently love those who cross my path, starting with myself. i will choose to hold myself accountable for my thoughts and actions. i will choose to honour my boundaries, whether or not they are understood. i will choose to learn. i will choose forgiveness, as my humanness will find a way to keep me humble. it always does... . . . . . . . #women #womenempowerment #womeninbusiness #soulstrong #womensupportingwomen #kelowna #instagram #choices #choiceisyours #bettertogether #loveyou #loveyourself #showup #counselorsofinstagram #counseling #boundaries #counsellingpsychology #therapy #therapist #humble #learning #growthmindset #therapistsofinstagram #poemsofinstagram #poem #poems #instapoetry #igpoetry #poemoftheday #whoiam (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbCoQVjemv/?igshid=1se6c89hrch9n

darling, although it may not feel like it today- there is beauty in your humanness. i am not afraid of your scars, those struggles have always been your soul’s attempt to save you. and darling, that was before you knew hope. you carry the tender weight of being human. you tread softly even when the world is heavy. i am simply here to remind you that we are better together. and together is how we heal. and so my darling, live as if you are so much more than you imagine. i know you are. . . . . . #human #humanity #commonhumanity #counselorsofinstagram #youareenough #poem #poetry #counselingpsychology #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #covid19 #instapoems #instapoetry #instagram #womenempowerment #women #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #kelowna (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAcrKrljLp5/?igshid=18wvugkybcpgp

she holds space for all of it. the pain, the grief, and what could have been. she works hard at trusting that this hurt will teach her things worth knowing. she realizes that she can never be the same again. breathing in hope. breathing out suffering. she has been witness to countless dark nights. and with each new dawn she falls more in love with all life offers. the beginning of anything and everything starts with her ability to hold space. and so, she will. . . . . . . #holdspace #holdspaceforhealing #courage #grief #grieving #healing #healingjourney #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #counseling #counselingpsychology #women #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #instapoems #instapoetry #poem #poetryofinstagram #instagram #covid19 #kelowna #trust #trusttheprocess #selflove #selfcompassion (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAaJKeoAPY4/?igshid=bxrlayiuv4tu

your younger self smiles ear to ear, cheering you on. her heart is warm as she can feel the efforts you have made to keep her safe. she needed protection then. she remembers the messes you made, and the ones you cleaned up. you have travelled many miles into the unknown with courage and the weight of unprocessed emotion that has brought you to your knees. still you stand. she is a witness to your unbroken faith in something greater than now. she sees you. the way you hold back, hold on, and hold it in. she knows you have had to learn how to move past what has happened and into what is possible. she is proud of your determination to live, to love, and to belong. she looks to your earned wisdom. and she asks that you hold her hand and remember where you came from. remember the joy and the pain, for both have led you into healing. she also asks that you remember her... she is always with you. . . . . . . . . . . . . . #innerchild #innerchildhealing #therapy #healing #selflove #selfcompassion #love #counselorsofinstagram #therapist #therapistsofinstagram #instapoems #instapoetry #igpoetry #instagram #covid19 #women #womensempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #growth #poem #poetryofinstagram #courage #innerchildwork (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAXkX2tD1tJ/?igshid=1ahdjej8e7pzy

she feels emotions so deep they spill from her eyes. tears rinse her soul. she weeps with relief, regret, and joy in equal measure. for people she loves and those she has loved. there is comfort in her sadness, in ways only she can understand. tears speak for her when words fail dismally. she cries alone, in silence when the nights are too long and daybreak seems a distant promise. she releases the tears to keep herself from drowning. she continues to wonder exactly how many tears need to fall before something grows. . . . . . . #crying #tears #cry #healing #growth #covid19 #kelowna #selflove #therapist #therapistsofinstagram #therapy #instapoetry #instapoems #instagram #igpoetry #poem #poetry #poetryofinstagram #womenempowerment #women #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #letgo #newbeginnings #counselingpsychology #grief #loss (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVE6PeDvcI/?igshid=qo88n3j8tppb

she feels emotions so deep they spill from her eyes. they rinse her soul. she weeps with relief, with regret, and with joy in equal measure. for people she loves and those she loved. there is comfort in her sadness, in ways only she can understand. tears speak for her when words fail dismally. she cries alone, in silence when the nights are too long and daybreak seems a distant promise. she releases the tears to keep herself from drowning. she continues to wonder exactly how many tears need to fall before something grows. (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAUTzH4DV9S/?igshid=lta7sgma9vl1

she is kind. even though she feels her heart is too soft for the world as it is. evidence of cruelty, injustice, and betrayal have left scars on her heart. even still, she chooses kindness. perhaps that is her ‘why’. she does what she can to create a world where the lonely feel loved, and the hurting are seen. she will show up with a smile, words of encouragement, and compassionately listen. she knows firsthand the power of kind words to soothe pain, and offer warmth when all else seems cold. she holds a deep knowing that kindness is her first language. all else is foreign to her. and she chooses to stay close to home. where her heart is. . . . . . . . . . #kindness #kind #homeiswheretheheartis #counselorsofinstagram #healing#growth #loveyourself #love #compassion #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #counselling #women #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #instapoems #instagram #instapoetry #igpoetry #kelowna #poem #poems #covid19 #bettertogether (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CASd7oZD1B9/?igshid=a8f8z7amo1o0

i realize that i am not broken, i am angry. a healthy anger surges through my veins. protesting what no longer serves me. i allow the energy of my anger to highlight my boundaries. it informs me of what i value- and what i am willing to accept. my anger provides me with the momentum to move forward- to reimagine and rearrange. my anger is the opposite of silent and unknown. so make no mistake dear one- i am far from broken. anger is my guide and i am listening carefully. . . . . . . . . #anger #healthyanger #boundaries #healthyboundaries #healing #growthmindset #kelowna #covid19 #women #womenempowerment #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #selflove #selfcompassion #therapistsofinstagram #therapy #therapist #counselling #counselingpsychology #counselorsofinstagram #instapoems #instapoetry #instagram #igpoemsociety #igpoetry #poem #poems (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAP4mulAfGY/?igshid=lh7tyz7a16ax

dear midlife, although i have not known you long, i trust you will be kind. you have already taught me to stand tall in what i stand for. you remind me that i am more than the sum of my immeasurable challenges. and less than perfect- and that is simply enough. dear midlife, thank you for showing me that my truth can be known, and that the lies of my youth have faded to irrelevance. those borrowed beliefs are no longer needed. it is you, midlife that captures my curiosity and my unabashed joy. you bring the warm winds of autumn, free falling and unravelling. i am bare authenticity. feet on ground and eyes on the heavens. dear midlife- you walk me through loss after loss- and hold me close as i weep tears of gratitude and regret. you are unwavering in your belief in my ability to rise. you firsthand understand the power of wisdom. dear midlife, as our relationship deepens- i will draw strength from you. it is with gratitude i embrace all that you offer me. my heart is open, and it is yours. . . . . . . . . . #midlifewomen #midlife #counselingpsychology #rise #wisdom #counselingpsychology #growthmindset #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #healing #women #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #covid19 #kelowna #igpoetry #instapoetry #instagrampoetry #poems #poemsbyme #selfcompassion (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CANRVykAEh_/?igshid=ywxl0jfoarys

darling girl, i am sorry that things were that hard. i am sorry they hurt you so deeply. i am sorry you believed you were not enough. no amount of shame and self-hatred will make it better. i know you hang on to things too tightly, and you have become hostage to your past. you have stayed in situations for too long, and you have run from situations that honoured you. ohhh darling, you show up in our world imperfectly. you are human. you are finding your way, and yourself- and that takes time. you get to forgive yourself for not being the person you wished to be. forgiveness will free up that space in your heart to choose a more authentic version of yourself. the truth of who you are is waiting on the other side of forgiveness. i will meet you there. . . . . . . . . . #counselorsofinstagram #forgiveness #forgive #forgiveyourself #therapy #therapist #therapistsofinstagram #kelowna #covid19 #healing #loveyourself #selfcare #selflove #instapoems #instapoetry #instagram #innerchild #igpoetry #womenempowerment #women #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAKu_dYgD_3/?igshid=1oy8gatkz1cyy

every time she lost herself she found more authenticity. she fell hard, but she fell forward- learning from her mistakes. she no longer looks for fairytale endings as she owns her story. and her story is love. her words became kinder, and her adventures more meaningful. loneliness will not find her and doubt will not stay for long. she gives herself permission to take up space- and she makes sure to leave room to love herself. . . . . . . . . . #takeupspace #loveyourself #loveyourselfquotes #loveyourlife #authentic #counselling #therapy #therapist #fallinlovewithyourself #therapistsofinstagram #igpoetry #instapoems #instapoetry #instagram #poem #poems #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #women #womeninbusiness #covid19 #healing #kelowna (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAIHiF_AmPv/?igshid=1t201ce91nx8q

she grew and grew, past the point of comfort and beyond your version of who she should be. she extends into the great beyond of her capacity until she becomes the kind of magic even she can believe in. she is ever-changing. she expands in her awareness, realizing that life is not trying to break her— but instead wake her. she now dances to the song that used to make her weep. the space that pain once inhabited is exactly the room she needed to grow. she plants hope in the wounds of her yesterdays. and all the while she grounds herself enough to rise. . . . . . . . . . . #roomtogrow #growth #healing #recovery #growthmindset #women #womenempowerment #womenempoweringwomen #womeninbusiness #kelowna #instapoems #instapoetry #instagram #igpoetry #igpoets #covid19 #counselingpsychology #therapistsofinstagram #riseup #therapist #therapy #counsellor #loveyourself #selfcompassion (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAFlvTTgtbw/?igshid=6euwsmw6qybe

underneath it all, below the thoughts and through the emotions she found herself. she knew that even stars are born in chaos, and it is only after they collapse they find their light. she shines brighter than ever, as she expands into herself- and when life offers her darkness and pain, she will find a way to become more vibrant as she leans into the discomfort of growth. her eyes were meant to shine- and her heart was meant to persevere. she will decide to believe in herself again and again. she will fade, and at times she will want to give up. instead, she will embrace herself, fully. it will take her immeasurable courage to become someone she can count on. she realizes she has a choice. and so she will choose. . . . . . . . . #choosejoy #becoming #counselingpsychology #selfcompassion #healingjourney #counselorsofinstagram #counsellor #healing #recovery #covid19 #loveyourself #belief #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #kelowna #igpoetry #instapoetry #instapoems #instagram #growth #growthmindset #choices #believeinyourself #lifeisbeautiful #authentic #courage #womenempowerment #women #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CADBJMFgMJ0/?igshid=1u2jjivyv4mu6

to the under-mothered. i see you, especially today. for those who were told they are “too much” and “not enough” and those who learned to abandon their needs, so it wouldn’t hurt as much when they were not met. for those grieving what could have been. for those who are sad that their mom is doing the best she can. for those that adopted a harsh internal critic, that sounds very maternal. for those who take care of our mothers and defend them without experiencing this firsthand. for those that now equate love with pain. for those that have lost any hope of reconciliation. for those that try desperately to give our own children more. for those that fight to be seen and heard. for those needing to be held close enough to feel that warm sense of belonging. for those that are now doing the courageous work to heal- learning to grow love in places left barren. for those guiding ourselves though scarcity into abundance. nurturing the parts of ourselves that crave to be known. i celebrate you, this is the work of our rebirth, the mother of our hope. . . . . . . . . #motherwound #mothersday #mother #parenting #counselorsofinstagram #counsellingskills #counseling #therapy #healing #daughter #mothersdaygift #instapoems #instapoetry #igpoemsociety #igpoetry #women #hope #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #loveyourself #selfcompassion #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #kelowna #poemsbyme #poems #poemsofinstagram (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAAYPMpAu1t/?igshid=2mlt5q60d1qt

darling girl, if I could rewind i would have slowed down just a bit- time was always on our side. i would read you that book again and again. i would also squeeze you a little tighter, and speak a little softer. you are almost fifteen, and i miss you already, that bright-eyed innocence and unparalleled determination. but, i do not miss me. i sit with this now, wondering if i gave you enough... you are growing up in a world so loud that your silence is deafening. your voice matters, it always has. you know so much, but i am sorry you never knew who i longed to be. i am just finding myself now, please let me introduce myself. let me rewind. we still have time. . . . . . . . . . #parenting #parentingteens #parentingteenagers #parents #daughter #women #womenempowerment #womenempoweringwomen #womensupportingwomen #counsellingskills #counselorsofinstagram #counsellor #therapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #kelowna #covid19 #healing #relationships #loveyou #love #rewind (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9ztLCA7ug/?igshid=1gky57bfkdkvc

dear one, do not lose heart in these disheartening times. you were made for this. you were created to become more... even more than your wildest dreams. a wild flower that bravely grows in the rain and rises up through the dirt- these conditions are fertile for blossoming- in fact, they are necessary... you are the untamed and you will find your way to navigate this rocky terrain. be wild dear one, do not let the world change you. be the change. . . . . . . . #untamed #fierce #fiercewomen #runwild #brave #youareenough #growth #growthmindset #growthroughwhatyougothrough #healing #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #kelowna #instagram #covid19 #bethechange #poetryofinstagram #poem #igpoemsociety #igpoetry #truth (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_7P3TIgDiJ/?igshid=1drxk942tzxg1

i feel an empty space where certainty once lived. yet somehow, my heart is more full than before. sadness is my comfort now...it finds itself at home in every fibre of my being. it would seem that our world is flaunting it’s taste for the unpredictable, where the unthinkable becomes reality surprisingly often. i will remember the yesterdays, and dream of tomorrow’s that will never be born. i will hold onto my memories tightly, while i try to let go of what i imagined for us. i will not fall apart as easily as i fell in love. i miss the way i could take you for granted; almost as much as i miss the way you would take me for dinner. i do not wish for closure. i wish to open wide enough to grieve as deeply as i love you. . . . . . . . . . . #grief #bereavement #griefjourney #loss #death #griefcounseling #therapy #healing #covid19 #change #recovery #therapistsofinstagram #counsellingpsychology #counselorsofinstagram #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #women #womeninbusiness #kelowna #instagram #poem #poetryofinstagram #love #loveyou #poetrylovers #igpoetry #instapoetry #deathdoula #griefsupport (at Kelowna, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_4vm9-Ac1t/?igshid=1ghsh7p5juq5