Body

Body (written by "Julie B aka Jewelbird)

Body,
you're lovely
you tell me a story
you're smarter than I realize

Body,
you have your own memory
and you don't forget much
you're wonderful

Body,
I'm sorry for what mind has done
I promise to take better care of us
you're superb

Body,
you're stronger than mind realizes
you're a fighter
you're super

Body,
you endure great things
you speak what you think or feel
you're ideal

Body,
I love us
We will come together fully
We are one!

Strengths

Strengths
You have many of them
I have many of them
Do we see them?
Can we name them?

Strengths go for recovery
Strengths go for love
Strengths are a part of us
If we will only acknowledge them

Strengths are a foundation
A foundation for life
We all have strengths
We all can create more strengths

How strong is your foundation?
Can you make it stronger?
Add more blocks of strengths?
See more of the blocks you already have?

Let us all see and acknowledge
Every single one of our strengths
Create new ones as we see fit
And never forget we are stronger than we think...

Inner Leopard

Inner Leopard

Find your inner leopard
Feel your inner strength
It's there all the time
Although you may not see it

Your inner leopard
Lies quietly, patiently
As all leopards do
Waiting for its chance

Just look and listen and smell
Strain every sense
Look, listen, sniff for the leopard
The leopard inside you

The leopard waits
Waits for its chance to come out
It's ready to pounce
Claws and teeth at the ready

It's ready to fight for you
Fight with all it's might
Fight for the real you
And defeat your enemies

Find your inner leopard
Feel your inner strength
It's there all the time
Although you may not see it

Silly Time

Silly Time

It's time to be silly
Yes it is
It's time to be silly
Have fun, have a blast!

Being silly at times is fun!
It's needed for sanity
It's time to be silly
Have fun, have a blast!

It helps to be silly
Every once in a while
It's time to be silly
Have fun, have a blast!

It's relaxing and de-stresses
It makes you laugh
And laughter is the best medicine
It's time to be silly
Have fun, Have a blast!

Determination

Determination

Determined
I'm determined
That doesn't mean
I won't fall
But it does mean
I'll get back up

Determined
I'm determined
I'll do what it takes
What it takes
To be whole

Determined
I'm determined
Anything for Recovery
Anything for healing
I'll do whatever it takes

Determined
I'm determined
I'll talk to people
I'll reach out
I'll help others

Determined
I'm determined
I'll do what it takes
To find Recovery
To do Recovery!

Plus and Thank You

Plus and Thank You
(based on Mentor Connect questions)

Plus and Thank You
They're what we need to focus on
The positives in life
And things we're thankful for

Each day has Plus and Thank You
Each day something good happens
Each day something happens
That we can be grateful for

We may have to think about it
The Plus and Thank You
But it is worth it
Helps us to remember
That life has so much to offer

Some days are easier than others
To remember the Plus and Thank You
But each day has one of each
Whether you believe it or not

I'm thankful for the rain
I'm thankful for the sun
I'm thankful for waking up today
I'm thankful for friends and family

It was good to talk to friends
It was a good day at work
It was a relaxing time at home
I took care of myself

Plus and Thank You should be
New magic words
Maybe if more people focused on them
The world would be a better place

Listen to Your Body

Listen to Your Body

Listen
Listen to your body
Listen to what it tells you

Is it hungry?
Is it thirsty?
Is it in trouble?

Sit with your body
Sit with the feelings
Sit with the emotions

Talk to your body
Tell it how wonderful it is
Tell it how beautiful it is

Every day listen
Every day sit
Every day talk

Natural is your body
Natural are the feelings
Natural are the emotions

LISTEN

Little Kid Inside

Little Kid Inside

There's a little kid
A little kid inside of me
A little kid inside of you
This little us is always there

Sometime we need to take care
Take care of little us
Play with toys, color in coloring books,
Watch kid shows and movies

It can really make a difference
And remind you of the simple life
The simple life of being a kid
The innocence and joy

Taking care of that little us
Also takes care of us
When we embrace all
All of who we are!

Let us take care of little us
Be okay with who we are
Embrace the child inside
And have FUN!

Tired

I wrote this one around 9-10 years ago, but it so applies to me as I'm sleep deprived right now.

Tired

Yawning
Eyes start to close
Relaxing
Jerkup
Have to stay awake
Yawn
Relaxing
Eyes start to close
Head starts to nod
Can't....go.....to.....sleep
Must.....stay......awake
So......tired
Good....night
Fell asleep
Tired

Day by Day

Day by Day

Day by day I go
I appreciate each moment
I live in the hear and now
What is present is what I seek

Sure I think about tomorrow
But I do not dwell there
I think about my dreams
And set small goals
But I stay in the day by day

I think about the past
I don't dwell there, either
I learn from my past
My past and my mistakes
But I stay in the day by day

Today is a gift
If I concentrate on today
I'll be gifted as well
How long has it been since you
Since you lived day by day?

Breaking Out of the Box

Breaking Out of the Box

You say this is who I am
Are you sure that's who I am?
What about this?
What about that?

You try to put me
Into a box
Yet for some reason
I just don't fit

I say this AND that
Is who I really am
I don't fit into a box
There's too much of me

I always break out
Break out of the boxes
That others try to fit me into
I just don't fit

It actually feels good
To break out of the boxes
It gives me a sense
Of relief and freedom

Break out of your boxes
Go ahead and test it
No box is made of stone
They're all paper and cardboard

Dreaming

Dreaming

Dreaming several dreams
Are they really possible?
Do dreams come true?
Can this happen?

Take the dreams
Work on them
Believe in them
Trust in your heart

I believe that dreams
That dreams do come true
That anything is possible
And that everyone should work
On their dreams

Follow your heart
Don't be discouraged
Don't be the one to look back
And say, "I wish...
I wish I had done this,
Gone after that."
Dreaming

Fireflies

This was written when I was 17, but is such a beautiful poem and speaks to the beauty of fireflies!

Fireflies

Fireflies glitter
All around me
Rising out
Of the grass

They glow to the
Tune of a bird's call
A dog's bark or
A child's voice

God's own little
Fireworks display
Just for me

They glow for everyone
Shining their light
CHecking me out
As I sit in my chair

As it gets darker
The fireflies go higher
Some looking like stars
Against the night sky
Fireflies, beautiful fireflies

The Power of Time

This one came to me shortly after writing the other one. Just think about the power of time, of any time, and think of how much it can do.

The Power of Time

Never doubt the power of time
Short time, long time
However long it takes
Sometimes things just come together
And sometimes you have to work on them

Sit with time
Be present in the moment
Don't worry about tomorrow
Or Yesterday
Just Be
In that time, who knows what will happen

Use time to gain new perspective
Look back and see where you were
See where you are now
How far have you come in that time?
How much time has it been?

In time, different things can happen
Recovery, healing
Dreams attained or worked on
Rest, relaxation
How has this time been for you?

Have you ever had wounds heal with time?
They can, you know?
But you will need to admit and feel
Feel your emotions
Then the wounds can fully heal
If given enough time

Never doubt the power of time
Short time, long time
However long it takes
Sometimes things just come together
And sometimes you have to work on them

One Month

Had Spiritual Direction today and realize how far I've come since the last time I saw her, which was about a month ago. So this poem is called

One Month

One Month
In just One Month
So much has changed
I'm whole now
I'm relaxed
I look rested
I feel happier

In One Month
I found a community
One that understands
One that supports me
In all my battles

In One Month
I have taken a risk
And seen it pay off
I have started to make plans
For the year to come

In One Month
Healing has happened
Physically, emotionally
Spiritually

I Thank God for One Month

Fear

I give a lot of the credit for the ideas in this poem to Thom Rutledge in his book Embracing Fear. It is a good book and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

"Fear"

Fear
Will you let yourself be afraid?
Will you sit with it?
Accept it, but not necessarily agree with it?
Will you put courage beside it?
Along side of it?

What are you afraid of?
Is it failure?
Is it success?
What lies beneath the initial fear?
What's your true fear?

Can you come out of the box?
Step through or climb over the wall?
Do you dare?
Why or why not?

Can you or will you follow your dreams?
What are they?
Do they scare you?
Will you face them?
Are you afraid of them,
Nervous about them?

Can you sit with the fear?
Will you?
Fear is a part of life
Will you accept that?
Can you?

Baby Steps
Baby Steps in facing fear,
Accepting fear,
Dealing with fear,
Putting things beside it.

We all have fear
And that's just fine
Fear

All I Need is Love

A poem that although speaks of some specific things to me, speaks to the different ways of loving people and the desire we all have to be loved in these different ways. May we all love in many ways.

All I Need is Love
"All you need is Love," the Beatles sang
"All I need is Love," I sing

Love me by talking to me
Love me by being honest with me
Love me by talking to me of different things
Love me by talking to me of YOUR things
Love me by not asking about the cane
Love me by being patient when my mind goes blank
Love me by being patient when I cannot hear you
Love me by redirecting me if I talk too much of my things
Love me by hanging out with me

Love
Love will conquer depression
Love will bring the happier me back
Love will help me overcome what I need to
Love will help me feel like a person, and not a disability
Love will raise me up
Love will get me outside of myself and help others instead

Friendship Love
Unconditional Love
Any Love
Love really does conquer all

"Love Is all I need," I sing
"Love is all we need," we can all sing.

The Starter Post/"Jewelbird"

So here it is, my first step towards a dream. As such I'll be posting poems on here, either new or some I've already written. I hope that these poems reach out to others and that others can get help from these poems.

This first poem tells you a little bit about myself and my screen name. You'll get to know me more through my poems as each one speaks to me as well as hopefully speaking to anyone who reads this. All are written by me.

"Jewelbird"

I am a bird

Free, flying high

I can choose to go where I want

or let the wind take me where it will

I depend on the seasons

And God's provision

And yet work to find the food that God provides

And to build a home with God-given materials

I do not worry much about

where the food and materials will

come from, but trust in God.

God and I work together to

provide for myself and my family

I cheerfully sing my song of praise

or cry out to God when I'm in

need or I'm after something

I look out for others, calling out

if I sense or see danger

I am beautiful, cute and/or

magnificent and yet may

look plain to some.

I am a Jewelbird