Tag: Heart

Poetry Today

Ground Rules: Boundaries Redefined

Paragonwords

Boundaries On. Peace Protected. Purpose First. If You Come with Chaos, you Do Not Come In.

Entry to my life is by invitation. The dress code is respect.
If your voice raises against my peace, you are already outside.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Pexels.com

No is a full sentence. I use it early. I use it often. I do not trade peace for proximity, status, or someone else’s comfort.

My boundaries are not suggestions. They are gates I own the keys to.
If a room tries to reduce me, I leave. If a conversation poisons the air, I log off.
If a relationship starves my soul, I choose distance and keep moving.

What you see is what you get. My core does not shift to fit a crowd.
I show up aligned. I show up consistent. I show up myself.

I dress the part. I act the part. I take up space on purpose.
Your discomfort is not my problem. My presence is not an apology.

Keep your negativity parked outside; it will be towed.
I do not host drama, rumor, or the echo of he said she said.
I am busy building a life with meaning. Every yes is paid for with time.

I am in competition with my last draft, my last habit, my last excuse.
I study. I pivot. I grow. I improve because I refuse to stay small.
Self-pity is a trap I do not step in. Blame is a mirror I do not hold.

Your opinion is not my oxygen. Your whispers do not move me.
I am guided by conviction, not chatter. By vision, not noise.
I live at a higher frequency; static gets cut.

If you mistake kindness for access, you will be corrected.
If you test my boundaries, you will meet the gate.
If you bring peace, purpose, or truth, you will find a seat at my table.

Know the rules before your bias speaks for you.
This is my life. My time. My energy.
I am one hundred percent authentic, and I plan to stay that way.

………..Until next time, be good to yourself!

Poetry Today

Why At First, I Give People the Benefit of the Doubt.

Paragonwords

One thing I’ve learned in life is this, I cannot build my opinion of someone based on what other people say about them. Whispers are slippery. Stories get bent out of shape. And sometimes what people project onto others has more to do with their own bias than with truth.

That’s why I always choose to give people the benefit of the doubt.

When I meet someone, I give them space to prove who they are. I ask myself, is what I heard true? Was it exaggerated? Was it taken out of context? Or did someone use their own unconscious bias to create a version of this person that isn’t real?

For me, nothing tells the story more clearly than how someone shows up in their daily life, through their actions, their choices, and most importantly, the way they treat people. That’s where their real character reveals itself.

But here’s the part where I stand firm, the moment you prove that the warnings were true, the moment your behavior confirms the very things people told me to watch out for, that’s the moment I walk away. No hesitation. No second guessing.

I refused to stay in toxic environments, around toxic people once they reveal their true self and I can see it with my own eyes. Toxicity is contagious, negativity breathes conformity and small-minded people always reveal themselves in the end.

Because here’s the truth, one person can be wrong. Two people can exaggerate, but when multiple voices start to align and my own experience confirms the pattern, that tells me everything I need to know. At that point, I don’t need more stories or explanations. I’ve seen enough for myself.

And so, I choose both, grace in the beginning, and boundaries in the end.

I want to know who you really are, not just who others say you are. But once you show me your true self, I believe you, and I adjust my place in your life accordingly.

That balance keeps me grounded. It keeps me from judging unfairly, and it keeps me from staying in spaces where I don’t belong.

It’s never your friends, the organization or the majority that’s toxic; Most times it’s the people entrusted to lead, who forgot that power and trust is a privilege, not a weapon to use against others.

Until next time! Take care of your hearts my darlings!

Nikki Sterling @paragonwords

Poetry Today

True Friendship vs False Labels

Paragonwords

The word friend gets tossed around too easily these days. Many use it loosely without grasping the weight of what friendship really means.

Friendship is not about feeding someone’s ego.
It is not about soothing insecurities or proving your loyalty over and over again.
It is not about accusations, jealousy, or keeping score.

True friendship is presence.
It’s holding space for each other.
It’s knowing you can sit in someone’s company without masks, without judgment, without fear of betrayal.

But too often, we lower our guard and invite people in who only come to take. They drain energy, stir drama, and leave you exhausted, vampires feeding on your time and spirit under the guise of “friendship.” If the relationship constantly feels like you’re pulling someone back from the edge, reminding them what friendship should be, then they were never really your friend.

A real friend brings peace, not chaos. They add value, not weight. They are steady hands, not clenched fists.

So here’s the truth:
If the word friend carries more baggage than joy, more drama than trust, let it go. Protect your space. Guard your energy. Real friendship will never demand you sacrifice your peace.

What Friendship Is vs. What It’s Not

Friendship isn’t feeding egos.
It isn’t jealousy, accusations, or keeping score.
It isn’t chaos disguised as care.

True friendship is presence.
It’s peace.
It’s someone who adds, not drains.

If the word friend carries more baggage than joy
let it go. Protect your energy.
The right ones will never ask you to sacrifice your peace.

Take care of your heart

Nikki

@paragonwords

Poetry Today

The Language Beneath My Skin

Paragonwords

I wrote this piece as a declaration and a reckoning. As a poet and writer, my work is born from the ache, from the moments I was voiceless, the years I was shrinking, the fire I kept swallowing to keep the peace.

Writing became my rebellion and my revival.

This poem is not just about being a writer, it’s about what it costs to tell the truth. It’s about carrying stories in your bones and deciding to bleed them onto the page anyway. It’s about being a woman, a survivor, an artist, someone who feels deeply and dares to make beauty from the breaking.

I wanted to remind myself, and anyone who reads it, that we don’t write because it’s pretty, we write because it’s necessary. Because silence was never meant to be our legacy.

This is the language I carry beneath my skin.
This is the fire I refuse to bury.

Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels.com

I don’t just write.
I unearth.

Every word is a bone I’ve dug from the dirt of my past.

A fossil from a life I lived in silence, now resurrected in ink.
I am both the archaeologist and the artifact.

The buried truth and the one brave enough to name it.

Poetry didn’t save me.
It demanded I show up, bloodied, honest, and cracked wide open.

Sometimes I write with grace.
Other times I write with rage.
But always, I write with reverence.

Because there’s something holy about surviving with your voice intact.
There’s something sacred about letting your pain bloom into art.
And there is nothing more courageous than telling the truth

In a world that profits from your silence.

So, if you ask me what I do,
I will not say I am just a poet.
I will say!
I am a Firestarter.
A soul excavator.
A keeper of stories too wild for cages.

And if my words ever burn, let them.
Some things are meant to set you free.

Paragonwords

Poetry Today

Love is the Root of Every Healing

Paragonwords

As the new year unfolds, let us step into its promise with hearts wide open, choosing to love without restrictions.

Let us cast aside the conditions we place on ourselves and others, the expectations, the hesitations and dare to offer love as it is meant to be, boundless, unafraid, and true.

For in doing so, we create space not just for connection but for transformation.

~Nikki

#Paragonwords #day 1-365

Poetry Today

The Grief Keeper

Paragonwords

“Grief is the echo of love, a reminder that our bonds are eternal”


Welcome to The Grief Keeper Journal, a sanctuary for your emotions, and a companion through the journey of loss. This journal is more than a collection of pages; it’s a haven designed to hold your grief, your thoughts, and your healing process.

The Grief Keeper is uniquely yours. Every tear-stained page, every colored illustration, and every written word is a step towards understanding and accepting your grief. Use this journal as a trusted friend, a silent witness to your pain, and a gentle guide towards healing.
Remember, this journey is not yours alone, this grief journal is here to accompany you every step of the way. Allow it to be a safe space where you can confront, explore, and ultimately, give your grief the tenderness it deserves.

Blessings!
Nikki Sterling @paragonwords
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads and BookBub 💗

Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/bcF97BT

#thegriefkeeper #untilwemeetagain #paragonwords

Poetry Today

How do you set yourself up for success?

Paragonwords
Photo by Nina Uhlikova on Pexels.com



These five daily habits will empower you to navigate challenges with confidence and lead with purpose.

1. Set Clear Intentions: Start each day with clear goals and intentions. Knowing what you want to achieve keeps you focused and motivated.

2. Continuous Learning: Dedicate time to learning and improving your skills. Stay updated with industry trends and seek opportunities for growth.

3. Positive Mindset: Cultivate a positive mindset to overcome challenges. Practice gratitude and affirmations to stay resilient and focused on solutions.

4. Effective Communication: Prioritize clear and effective communication. Whether networking or collaborating, strong communication builds relationships and drives results.

5. Self-Care: Prioritize self-care to maintain mental and physical well-being. Taking care of yourself ensures you can perform at your best and make a meaningful impact.

Stay focus, stay empowered, stay confident and lead with purpose.

#paagonwords #motivated

Poetry Today

I really wanted to write a pretty “Welcome April” feel good post, but……….

Paragonwords

I really wanted to write a pretty “welcome April” feel good post, and I know so many of us are pushing ahead with laser focus and doing our very best to make or through each day! But I decided to keep It real!
So, let me talk to those that are being left behind in their struggles, in their relationships, in their mind, in their ability to see a way out…….

Change will only come when you’ve decided that you’ve had enough, when you draw a line in the sand and say, “No more.” That will be the point when you reclaim your power and take ownership of your circumstances.

Yes, I know It’s not easy,
It requires courage, self-awareness, and a willingness to embrace discomfort. For it’s in that discomfort that growth flourishes. It’s in that decision that transformation begins.

So, if nothing has gone as planned so far this year, and you’re feeling stuck, unhappy, or unfulfilled, ask yourself, have I had enough? Am I ready to take a stand and create the change I seek? remember the power to transform your life lies within you. It starts with a single decision, the decision to no longer settle for anything less than you deserve.

Embrace your power. Seize every opportunity and gather the courage to move forward. One step at a time, one tear at a time, one heartbreak at a time, one self-revelation at a time, one truth at a time. Take the step and watch as change unfolds, leading you toward a brighter, more astonishing future.

~#paragonwords

Blessings/ Nikki Sterling

Uncategorized

Forgive Them

Paragonwords

There’s a light in your heart when you know within yourself that you hold no grievance in your soul for anyone.

When you forgive, know that you are healing and building a future free from the baggage and torment of your past.

Know that forgiveness is accepting that, yes, what you did hurt me, but I will no longer allow hatred and unforgiveness to live in my heart.

I forgive, so freedom can sing in my bones.

I forgive, so I can be the best version of myself.

I forgive, so I can give myself a future.

I forgive, so my heart is free to bless others.

I forgive, so I can teach my kids about the power of forgiveness.

I forgive, so God can use me.

I forgive, so I can pray without hinderance.

Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. It unshackles your mind and body and help you to see the bigger picture.

.

With Gratitude

Nikki Sterling

~Paragonwords

Poetry Today

I Am Ready

Paragonwords

2023 tried to take me out but I wouldn’t let it. It was hard and rough, but I showed up in all my strength.
The more it tried to silence me, the more I laughed in the face of fear. At rock bottom, I dug deep within myself and found gold.
I did not sacrifice myself worth on the hard days. I kept my heart soft and prayed my way through.
2024 will be a year of growth and breakthrough. I am ready!

I am ready to be free, I am ready to live the life I worked so hard to achieved. This is my time.

~🩵Paragonwords