Tag: soul

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

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

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

Poetry Today

Don’t Let Rejection Move you

Paragonwords

Photo by lil artsy on Pexels.com

Rejection is a part of life, sometimes it’s unfair, and sometimes it’s because we are not prepared to step into that present situation. Most times, it’s because we are trying to fit into a space that’s not meant for us.

Always trust that sometimes rejection is pushing you towards something greater. Do not allow rejection to move you. Do not allow it to stop you from reaching higher. Do not allow it to harden your heart.

Continue to move with purpose, continue to reach into the depth and announce your presence. You will know where you are meant to be, you will feel the warmth and the peace that comes with being accepted.

Never push or stay where you know you don’t belong. Recognize rejection when it comes and learn to walk away. In doing so, you will save yourself years of being stuck in the wrong place.

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Thanks for reading

Have a safe and bless week.

With Gratitude

Nikki

Poetry Today

Restoration

Paragonwords

It’s time to heal from all the destruction you’ve been through. Closed the door and be still, let peace enter your soul. Walk away if you can, respond differently, change your surroundings, speak up for yourself, do whatever it takes to move forward. You only have one chance at living, start making your own choices and live the life God intended for you to live. Start today!

@paragonwords

Thanks for sharing this space with me. Have a beautiful week ahead.

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You can connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @paragonwords

My poetry book is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you’ve picked up a copy, I would love to hear from you.

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Thank you for sharing this space with me.

With Gratitude

~Nikki

Poetry Today

Grief

Paragonwords

I want to encourage you today to hold on; to not give in to grief. It will rob you of your best days, but you will survive. There’s hope at the bending of the road, a shift in time that will forever connect the lineage of hearts and hands, of soul and spirit. What you’ve lost will never be forgotten and what you’ve gained will live in your heart until the end of time.

This is for you on the hard days

I know you’ve tried your best

To live with this emptiness

But the world

Thunder through your chest

And most days

Bravery calls out

For brokenness to take

Its place

You’re never one

To walk away

But your soul is weary

The nights are longer

And your heart

Is full of grief

Thank you for sharing this space with me

You can pick you a copy of Sackcloth & Silk on Amazon.

If you find this post meaningful, leave me a comment.

With Gratitude

Nikki

© 2022-2023. All rights reserved. @paragonwords

Poetry Today

Gut Feelings

Paragonwords

Some called it intuition, sixth sense, a hunch, a feeling, my grandmother calls it gut feelings, but no matter the name, I always listen to it and pays attention. That feeling that’s crawling between your soul and your bones, it’s always trying to warn you, to tell you something is not right. Often times we ignore it and ended up paying the consequences.

This poem speaks of the truth of not listening to your gut feelings.

Broken Link

These walls no longer

Hold me

This house without

Your warm smile

No longer feels like home

A broken link

A body without hands

And hearts

You were the epicenter

Of my world

A beautiful disaster

I saw coming

But couldn’t turn

Away from

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This poem along with many more can be found in my book Sackcloth & Silk.

Available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

@paragonwords

Do you listen to your intuition or your gut feelings?

I would love to hear from you- leave me a comment

Until next time

Nikki

Poetry Today

You Are My Greatest Hope

Paragonwords

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Desmond Tutu

I know it’s cliché, I know you’ve heard it over and over again. Don’t give up on love.

So hear me out for a second!

Someone you love and trusted has ripped your heart wide open and you are left with the brokenness, the betrayal, the hurt and the feeling that you will never love or trust anyone again.

For some, the betrayal is unthinkable, and you can’t even bring yourself to talk about it. For some, you are still carrying the resentment and anger in your heart. For some, you shut the world out and fall into a dark place. For some the pain is too great and you made a promise to never let your guard down.

No matter how wrong things have gone for you, I want to encourage you today not to give up on love. Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, a brother, a sister or a lover, you have to get up, forgive them and move on.

Stop going back and reliving the pain. Forgive the person that hurt you, then forgive yourself.

Don’t give up on love. Never give up on yourself. No matter how many times love has let you down.

I believe one day when you least expect it, love will find you, and someone will tell you that you are their greatest hope and their sweetest blessing.

It’s not impossible, you’re not too old, or too broken, stop telling yourself that you don’t deserve love, that no one will ever love you. Start changing your pattern of thinking, let it all go and open your heart to the future and all the possibilities that awaits you.

After all you are my greatest hope.

There are good things waiting for you! I hope you know that, I pray you believe that.

Poem

At the end of the day

When the hush settled into its itself

And your beating heart

Pulls me in from the wreckage

Of the day

I came to you silently

Dragging all my burdens

Behind me

And you wrapped me in your arms

And whispered

I’ll always be here at the end

Of the day

To welcome you home

You’re my greatest hope

My sweetest blessing

My forever love

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With love and gratitude

Nikki

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Poetry Today

You are defined by the grace you give

Paragonwords

You were born into it, the hardship, the pain, the abused, the sickness, the worry, the neglect, the endless tears……. you’ve seen and experience more than you should. You’ve tried and failed more times than you should. You’ve questioned your worth. You’ve stayed silent even when you have so much to say.

But today I want to tell you something you probably already know.

You are precious and your life is worth far more than you could ever image.

Give yourself and your situation some grace today.

You carry so much light in you, but you need to let the darkness go, so you can shine for the world to see.

I want you to remember that no matter how bad your circumstances are; you are not defined by them.

Your worth is not defined by your overflowing to do list

Your beauty is not defined by your weight

Your goals are not defined by your failures

Your truth is not defined by what others think of you

Your future is not defined by your past mistakes

Your hope is not defined by your lost

You are defined by the life you live

By the grace you give

By the freedom of your smile

And by the virtue of your hands

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I hope you find this post meaningful

Leave me a note and let me know!

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With Gratitude

Nikki