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.
I am in the process of finishing up Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory and let me tell you, I’ve never identified with something this deeply. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been learning how to let them, to let people think what they think, do what they do, and reveal who they truly are without letting it shake me. It’s been a lesson in release, in protecting my peace without explanation.
I’ve had to remind myself that not everyone will understand my growth, my silence, or my boundaries. And that’s okay. Let them misunderstand. Let them drift. Let them choose differently. Because every time I’ve stopped trying to control the outcome, I’ve found more of myself waiting on the other side.
It’s freeing, really. To stop chasing closure or clarity and start choosing calm. To let life unfold as it should, without forcing what isn’t meant to stay. That’s the beauty of letting them, it’s not about indifference; it’s about reclaiming your power and giving yourself permission to rise unbothered.
Let Them!
Two simple words that unravel everything you thought you had to control.
This isn’t just a theory, it’s a practice. A quiet revolution. The art of release. It’s learning to stop gripping people so tightly that you lose your own pulse. It’s giving others the freedom to show you who they are and giving yourself the grace to believe them.
Let them talk. Let them leave. Let them misunderstand you. Let them think you’ve changed. Because maybe you have, and maybe that’s the point.
The Let Them Theory is a lesson in power. Not the kind you flex, but the kind you protect. It teaches you that peace isn’t found in trying to be chosen, it’s found in choosing yourself again and again, even when it costs you comfort.
It’s about learning to stand still while the world spins with noise and judgment and realizing you don’t have to prove your worth by chasing what keeps slipping away. You just let them, and in doing so, you let yourself be.
This is a book you don’t just read; you live. You breathe it in the moments you bite your tongue instead of explaining yourself. You feel it when you stop over-giving. You embody it the day you stop begging for peace and start being peace.
It’s a guide for the soft-hearted, the overthinkers, the ones who love deeply and are finally learning that love without boundaries is self-betrayal. It’s not a story of detachment; it’s the story of reclamation.
Because when you let them, you let go of the illusion of control and step into the quiet truth of who you are: whole, grounded, and free.
This poem is my reminder, that letting go isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. It’s peace wearing armor. It’s the freedom to stand in who I am without needing permission or validation.
Let Them!
by Paragonwords
Let them talk. Let them twist your name into stories they were never brave enough to live. Let them misunderstand your silence, your softness, your distance.
Let them.
Let them fall away like leaves that were never meant to survive the winter. You are not obligated to chase what detaches itself. You are not required to bleed for closure. Peace does not demand witnesses, only surrender.
Let them choose someone else. Let them forget your worth until the echo of you haunts their better judgment. Let them walk into rooms that used to hold your laughter and feel the hollowness of what they took for granted.
Let them go. Even when your hands ache from release. Even when your heart begs to run after what broke it. Let them.
Because you cannot carry people who crave their own destruction. You cannot beg for presence from those addicted to your absence. You cannot be light in the house of someone who worships shadow.
So let them! drift, vanish, betray, distance, disappear. Let them teach you what your boundaries could never say aloud.
And when the noise fades, when the silence finally becomes familiar, you will hear the truth whisper, they were never yours to keep.
You will breathe differently. Stand taller. Move through rooms without explaining your worth.
Because what leaves was never love. What stays! what remains when everything else falls away, is you.
Still here. Still whole. Still choosing peace over permission.
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!
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.
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.
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.
“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 💗
Living a full and meaningful life is not about staying within the shadows, hidden from the world’s gaze.
It’s about stepping boldly into the light, embracing the complexity of human connection, and leaving an indelible mark on hearts and lives.
It’s found in the quiet strength of listening intently to another’s story, in the courage to speak truth to power without fear of consequence, and in the relentless pursuit of empathy even in the face of adversity.
A life well-lived is not measured by accolades or material wealth, but by the depth of compassion shown to those who need it most, by the resilience to rise from setbacks with grace and determination, and by the willingness to challenge the status quo in pursuit of justice and equity.
But oh! to live meaningfully is to cultivate relationships that transcend superficiality, to nurture dreams that ignite passion and purpose, and to navigate the complexities of existence with humility and authenticity.
In every interaction, every decision made with integrity, and every moment of vulnerability shared, we carve our legacy, an imprint on the hearts and souls of others that resonates far beyond our physical presence. It is this essence of genuine connection and unwavering commitment to making a difference that defines a life lived fully and meaningfully.
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.
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.
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 