Glow..Yourself (2025)

12/04/2025

"After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,

With the grace of a woman,
Not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your roads on today,
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure…
that you really are strong
and you really do have worth,
and you learn and learn…
With every goodbye you learn."

( ✍️ Jorge Luis Borges )

Art : Illustration Art Nouveau

01/01/2025

“WHAT I LEARNED IN WONDERLAND”
Sometimes,
I feel like
There’s not enough time.

This sense of urgency
Has been good for me.

I’m glad I followed the white rabbit down THAT hole.

“Drink me”
And “eat me”

Has been entertaining,
And even game-changing,
At times.

But, couldn’t everyone
Benefit, a bit…
From a good “shrink”.

And, everyone, perhaps,
Should, sometimes, try to grow.

It seems that, these days,
“Everyone wants a magical solution to their problems.”

“But, everyone also,
Often,
Refuses to believe in magic”.

In my own personal wonderland,
I’ve learned from Alice
That crying is ok.

Actually,
Crying is one of the greatest emotional experiences of all.

However,
Drowning in my own tears

Doesn’t seem
To me
To be,

Particularly,
Healthy.

It could even lead
To one
Wrecking a home

Just like Alice did,
When she was feeling small,

And recklessly,
Desperately,
Trying to grow
Big and tall.

In my own personal wonderland,
The ho**ah smoke has tickled my nostrils,
With the wisdom
Of a butterfly to be;

Who helpfully,
And happily,

Gifted me…
A mushroom.

“Change for the better,”
Said he.

I now strive for genuine pride
When developing my

Authentic,
And custom-fit,

Wondrous,
Identity.

Whether it’s curated and created,
Or destined and fated,

I, myself, believe
In what the duchess said to me,
So eloquently
And haphazardly…

“Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it may appear to others that you were, or might have been, or were not, other than what you had been, or would have appeared to them to be…”

I thank the duchess for telling me that.
Plus, that duchess and her Cheshire cat,
Are the ones who directed me
To the man
With the card in his hat,

And an amusing March Hare
At his tea party.

This tea-drinking “mad hatter”
Made me realize that
My identity
Is allowed to be

A little bit
“Mad”.
And, a lotta bit silly.

Since then, I ran with that,
Never regretted it,
And never looked back.

Playfully weird
Is a great way to be.

At least it has been
For the one I call “me”.

As I went deeper into my own personal wonderland,
I helped a crying baby pig,

Who wistfully wanted to be,
Something other than “what she

Had appeared
To appear
To be”.

Helpful and caring,
Even when it’s risky or daring,
Seems to be
What works best
For me,

The queen of hearts
And her knights, the cards,
Helped me to further develop
The moral compass
That still,
To this day,
Guides me through this
Whimsically wonderful
Wonderland.

I’ll always cherish that pivotal moment,
When I decided to be brave,

And helped keep the duchess
From ending up headless,
In a grave,
Over the course of a game
Of flamingo-hedgehog croquet.

The queen would’ve have me beheaded too,
If she had her way.

Thank goodness I found the courage to say:

“Stop”.

My life was changed for the better
Once again,
When
I met a gryphon and a mock turtle,

Whose music and poetry
Certainly moved me,

Emotionally,
Intellectually,
Philosophically,
And creatively.

Music and poetry
Have since been
A godsend for me,

Especially,
Through the trials of life,
Or the struggles and strife
That seem to appear

Every time
A knave of hearts
Gets wrongfully accused
Of stealing some tarts.

The duchess advised me,
Quite wisely,
When she said to me:
“If you take care of the sense,
The sounds will take care of themselves”.

Whether she was referring to making music, making love, or manifesting the magic of meditation…
I completely agree.

I’ll never forget how the hatter
Helped me realize
What I hadn’t seen,

Until he,
Lovingly,
And maniacally,
Opened my eyes.

“He’s completely bonkers.
But, all of the best people in this world are.”

That madman with his 6pm tea,
Said to me:
“The secret of life
Is to surround yourself
With people
Who make you smile”.

This perspective has been
A big part of the process
That I strive to utilize,
As I construct my own
Magical,
Musical,
Memorable,
And marvelous
Wonderland to live in.

After all,
“This is MY dream,
And I’ll decide
Where I go from here”.

Thank you Alice,
For those inspirational words.

In my own personal wonderland,
“Tis love that makes the world go round”
And “the best gift
Someone could give
Is a lifetime of adventures”.

I’ll never regret the day
That I realized
That there was a rabbit
That I could follow,

And a “wonderland”
Of adventures,
Awaiting anyone who is bold enough
To intentionally go tumbling
“Down a rabbit hole”,

Without knowing
What,
Exactly,
Will be found
At the other end.

Now, for me,
It’s plain to see
That adventures in wonderland
Are worth ten times the fee,

Even when my anxiety
May trigger in me
A desire to flee.

What good
Would
A wonderland be,

If one did not get to wonder
About…

What awaits us at the other end of a rabbit hole?

What’s to be discovered on the other side of a closed door?

What will happen if you take a chance and eat the cake?

Who you may meet,
And help,
And learn from,
And love along the way?

And who may surprise you
In the end

By becoming
A cherished
And wonderful
Friend…

A cat?
Or a hatter?
A caterpillar?
Or a queen?

Dreams can only come true
If you first dare to wonder
And then
Dare to dream.

23/11/2024

At the end of the day, it's about the people who are by your side when life gets hard. It's about the people who are there when you need them the most.

It's about the people who say "we've got this" when you are facing challenges. It's about the people who notice when you're not yourself. It's about the people who check in on you when you have been more quiet than usual.

It's about the people you'd rather sit in comfortable silence with than make small talk with. It's about the people who raise an eyebrow and know you're lying when you say you are okay when you're not.

It's about the people who know your coffee order off by heart, and when you need one. It's about the people who text you to say they are thinking of you on the days that are difficult for you.
Put simply, it's about the people who think of you. It's about the people who notice. It's about the people who show up in the smallest but most meaningful ways. It's about the people who stay, through it all.

- Unknown

21/11/2024

I started calling that girl back.
The girl who loved living,
the girl who danced instead of walking.
The girl who had sunflowers for eyes
and fireworks in her soul.
I started playing music again,
hoping she would come out.
I started looking for beautiful moments
to experience,
so she would feel safe enough
to show herself,
because I knew she was in there.
And she needed my kindness
and my effort to come to the
surface again

(✍️ S.C. Lourie)

You’re worth it
💫🦋💫

Much Love,
🧙🏻‍♀️✨🔮🖤

(Art: unknown)

13/11/2024

“She’s in between worlds right now.
A part of her is leaving.
But it’s not like before.
She’s holding space this time.
Not sweating it, but breathing beyond her skin.
She’s good.
She’s even shape-shifting.
The raven.
The owl.
She’s unafraid of the bird’s-eye view.
And unlike all those other times, she isn’t scared of the unknown.
She’s present and neither timid nor bold.
It feels beautiful like the song of a blackbird.
And powerful like the rumble of an avalanche.”

~ Tanya Markul

Art | by Ingrid Tusell

07/11/2024

Ernest Hemingway once said:
When people talk listen completely. Don’t be thinking what you’re going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe. You should be able to go into a room and when you come out know everything that you saw there and not only that. If that room gave you any feeling you should know exactly what it was that gave you that feeling.

It’s a rare and profound gift to be fully present with someone, and yet, it’s something so few of us truly offer. Most people only half-listen, their minds already formulating their next words, distracted by their own thoughts, or zoning out entirely.

Imagine how powerful it would be if we listened more deeply—if we made a commitment to being fully engaged, to hearing and understanding not just the words, but the emotions and intentions behind them. Listening isn’t just about waiting for your turn to speak; it’s about absorbing what someone else is sharing and making them feel heard, valued, and understood. It’s about connecting on a level deeper than surface conversations, because when you truly listen, you open a door to empathy and genuine connection. And isn’t that what we’re all really longing for?

Beyond listening, there is also the art of observing, of truly noticing the world around you. When you walk into a room, take a moment to soak in everything. Notice the details—the way the sunlight filters through the windows, the color of the walls, the expressions on people’s faces, the way someone is nervously tapping their foot or laughing with their eyes more than their mouth. Most of us rush through spaces, our minds preoccupied and our eyes barely registering what’s in front of us. But there’s magic in paying attention, in being mindful of the small details that make every moment unique.

Think of the room not just as a physical space, but as an experience. Every room has a mood, a feeling, an energy. It could be the coziness of a room filled with laughter, the tension of a space where a difficult conversation just took place, or the warmth of a place that holds beautiful memories. The more we tune in to these subtle feelings, the more deeply we can understand our surroundings and the people in them. What gave you that feeling? Was it the way someone’s eyes lit up when they smiled? The scent of freshly brewed coffee that brought a sense of comfort? Or perhaps the distant echo of a song that stirred up a forgotten memory?

Being observant and emotionally aware in this way takes practice, but it also transforms the way you move through life. You become more sensitive, more attuned, more aware. You start to notice the way a friend’s voice softens when they’re talking about something they love, or the slight shift in someone’s tone when they’re hiding something. You begin to see and feel things that others miss entirely, and that awareness can lead to a richer, more connected experience of the world.

It’s a beautiful thing to be a person who listens with their heart, who observes deeply, and who feels fully. It means you’re not just drifting through life; you’re living it intentionally. You’re soaking in the fullness of each moment, aware of the beauty and complexity around you. It means you understand people better, because you’ve made the effort to see and hear them, to pick up on the nuances of their being. It means you can be the kind of person whose presence feels calming, because people know you’re truly there with them, not just waiting for your turn to talk or half-heartedly engaging.

So, when you’re in conversation, let go of the urge to plan your next statement. Take a breath, relax your mind, and give the person speaking your undivided attention. Let yourself be present, fully. When you walk into a room, slow down and really see it. Observe the details, feel the energy, notice the small things that make that moment unique. You’ll find that life becomes richer, fuller, and more meaningful when you learn to listen and observe completely. It’s not just about hearing words or seeing objects—it’s about feeling the fullness of everything around you. It’s about experiencing life, deeply and completely.
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What do you believe we miss out on when we’re not fully present, and how does that impact our relationships and experiences?
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28/10/2024

I do not want to be remembered as a woman who was always exhausted. I do not want to be remembered as a woman who was always stressed, always busy, always rushing, always holding herself together and pushing through. I would like to be remembered as a relaxed woman, a compassionate woman, a curious, joyful, pleasure-loving woman. A woman who works hard and rests deeply, who loves fiercely and lives peacefully. A woman who knows her worth and her power, who accepts her imperfections and her vulnerabilities, who embraces her limitations and possibilities. A woman who laughs and cries and aches and loves and is enchanted by the mess and magic and mundaneness of this beautiful, shimmering life.

~ Nicola Jane Hobb

Photography: Abdullah Evindar

10/10/2024

As time goes by,
You will loosen your grip on that rock,
The one you always thought was home,
And you will realise that home is not a place,
It’s a state of mind.
Let it go.
As time goes by,
You will learn to see yourself more clearly,
The girl who was always too much of one thing,
And too little of another, was actually
Everything she needed to be.
Let her out.
As time goes by,
You will let the simple things become the big,
And you will allow the big things to become the simple,
And that readjustment will be,
The day you really start to live,
Let it be.
As time goes by,
You will be forced to say goodbye many times,
And your soft little heart will shatter but,
It will still beat and that will bring you,
All the purpose you need.
Let it beat.
As time goes by,
You will stop choosing wealth over peace,
You will stop choosing money over time,
And you will see that the treasures you need,
Are in the smiles and the laughter.
Let them in.
As time goes by,
The moments you remember when your life flashes past,
Are never the awful memories my friend, it’s the joy,
The summer nights, the lazy days with loved ones,
The midnight chats and the morning hugs,
Let them happen.
Let them all happen.

✍️Donna Ashworth
🎨VisualDreams.art
Love and Light,
Michelle Price

10/10/2024

"One of the most difficult goodbyes occurs when we love a person and, at the same time, we see that it is not possible to build a healthy relationship by their side. It is a moment of deep introspection, where the heart and mind are debating between staying or leaving.

Well, staying would imply continuing to wait for changes that do not arrive, tolerating actions that hurt us, accepting the slightest effort, losing ourselves in the attempt not to lose it. Sometimes, hope ties us to unsustainable situations. We cling to the idea that things will improve, but the reality is that it doesn't always happen that way. Courage is in recognizing when it's time to let go and let go.

We know that leaving will hurt; but it will be the route that will lead us to heal. The pain of farewell is inevitable, but it is also the first step towards healing. By moving away from what hurts us, we allow our wounds to heal. It is an act of self-love and self-care.

Instead, staying alone will continue to open the wound more and more. Remaining in a toxic or unsatisfactory relationship prolongs the suffering. Every day we spend in that situation, the wound deepens. It's like we're tearing an open wound over and over again.

Sometimes you choose to leave, not for lack of love for that person, but for your self-love that moves you to take care of yourself. And with love you leave. The decision to leave is not an act of lack of love for the other person, but an act of love for oneself. That is to say: "I love myself enough not to allow myself to continue suffering." And in that self-love, we find the strength to say goodbye, be in PEACE and move forward.

Remember that every farewell is an opportunity to grow, learn and transform yourself. Sometimes, the greatest act of love is to let go of what no longer nourishes us, to give space to new experiences."

💕

07/10/2024

To the child who always knew the world contained magic and wonder, beauty and goodness, even when the pain was enough to swallow her whole.
To the small young one I used to be, I owe so much to her heart that never gave up hope.
She didn’t let the adult me completely cover my heart in concrete, she kept the ancient song that whispers in my bones, alive.
When this human world was too painful to be in, she knew that this natural landscape; inside and out, still contained strength, courage, medicine and tenderness.
And now I come back to her more and more with each day, full circle; with gratitude beyond measure.

~ Brigit Anna McNeill: Brigit Anna McNeill

[Art: Daniela Werneck]

05/10/2024

Before self-love becomes a liberation, it is first a burden. Well, there's the anger at who treated you poorly when you didn't know to ask for better treatment. The anger at yourself for what you've allowed. There's the grief for lost time.

There's the strangling necessity to push people, things, ideas out, out, out because there's no room for them. There's the loneliness and isolation that accompanies the growth of self.

There's the new boundary lines, the new range of the word no, the opening of eyes that would rather be shut, and the terrifying realization that love isn't synonymous with joy. It's synonymous with growth.

Jamie Varon 💫

✨Artwork by Nina Zielienska - Krudysz

30/09/2024

I crave a gentle life.

I know what hell looks like already.
More harsh lessons aren’t necessary.
Give me soft evenings, sweet as chocolate.
Nights worn like wool.
Let’s laugh till we’re in tears,
alongside those who make loving us look easy.
I want to breathe in the air of everywhere I once dreamt of making memories.
Though my hardships have shaped me,
in beautiful and painful ways that I will forever be grateful for,
I want my days to be full and affectionate.
I want to be formless,
someone who flows and moves without worry.
Some days I’m water.
Others, I’m lava.
Both are real.
Both are me.
All versions of me are honest and necessary.
Who I am is safe when respected.
I’d rather be a great friend to a few
than an acquaintance to many.
I’d rather be widely accepting
than widely accepted.
I want to be the one that others know it’s safe to turn to.
I want to be the person who I needed all those years ago.
There’s a softness within me that wasn’t always there.
It grew from heinous places.
Cold, callous, remorseful places.
My softness is my greatest strength.
To not be hardened by the very things meant to break you,
that’s what I’m most proud of.
Now, everyone near me gets my light.
This way we all shine.

- J. Raymond

Glow..Yourself

12/04/2025

01/01/2025

23/11/2024

21/11/2024

13/11/2024

07/11/2024

28/10/2024

10/10/2024

10/10/2024

07/10/2024

05/10/2024

30/09/2024

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