For want of wings
we have been earthbound,
but hearts and dreams soar!
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 August 3rd, scrambled blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005, pages 94–95
motivation
Think outside the cage
Let go —
Open the cage of mind
Let the grief out
Reach for the health and peace
growing outside the cage —
Yes! Now’s the time.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 August 3rd, scrambled blackout poetry created from Rafe Martin, Birdwing, 2005, page 135
Memorial
Grieving makes us stronger
It gives us a spirit of grace
And the grace of spirit
Our hearts feel weaker
But living past loss is
the ultimate courage
We honor our loved ones
by living on despite,
and all the more because.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 May 27th
How to shine
It’s not that the people
with nice shiny attitudes
have not been banged up—
but they buff out their
dings and scratches with
gratitude and positivity,
perspective and grace,
resilience and courage,
with purpose and faith.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 May 27th
Saving y’all some time
After reading countless health books over the past couple of decades, I can tell you it pretty much all boils down to this: Eat plenty of veggies, work, play, rest, and don’t worry.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 May 8th
Forever lit with the soul of another
Immediate grief is a falling to the knees, a bleeding of the heart, a blow to the soul. Ongoing grief is a getting up; a call to move on; a healing and a strengthening; a melding of soul with sorrow, with loss, with life; a transformation of self to renewed being, rebuilt with the leavings of another.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 March 5th
A thousand choices
Transform FEAR into — curiosity, love, kindness, humor, hope, joy, knowledge, focus, laughter, awareness, wonder, willpower, wings, experience, faith, fervor, encouragement, enlightenment, challenge, gratitude, goodwill, action, learning, beginnings, opportunity, inertia, aim, determination, adventure, character, smiles, hard work, independence, liberation, letting go, peace, patience, perspective, awe, calmness, confidence, effort, insight, light, movement, living, overcoming, mindfulness, healing, grace, generosity, energy, acceptance, reflection, truth seeking, self-reliance, remedies, desire, fight, fortitude, freedom, intention, lessons, journeys, poise, positivity, art, poetry, singing, dancing, words, wisdom, wellness, trust, respect, compassion, affirmation, friendship, fun, fresh starts, stepping stones, goals, dreams, drive, duty, grit, cheer, excitement, apologies, forgiveness, plans, prayers, purpose, questions, coping, daring, empathy, helping, morale, moxie, nerve, heart, guts, resolve, self-discipline, spirit, tenacity, understanding, research, enthusiasm, valor, caution, courage, boldness, ability, readiness, information, life, meditation, mettle, options, decisions, protest, change, education, emancipation, volition, carpe diem, zeal, honesty, introspection, usefulness, appreciation, blessings, delight, dignity, play, exercise, hugs, deep breaths, doing, vantage points, U‑turns, exploration, growth, invitations, venture, virtue, value.
—Terri Guillemets, 2019 March 1st
Arise
Morning isn’t just the sun coming up anew over the horizon — you are, too.
—Terri Guillemets, 2018 October 24th
Shields & grit
If life throws stones at you, crush them and throw back glitter.
—Terri Guillemets, 2018 May 13th
Spinning
For every fear that spins out of control, backspin it with a good deed. You may be helping someone else who is afraid.
—Terri Guillemets, 2016 July 21st