overcoming – Rivers Renewed

Layers

Layer upon layer, each layer

of my unending horizons

washes over me

teaching me that I am more,

so much more

than my struggles

clarity, corrected vision

encouragement even

that yes

I can embrace a sense of hope,

and I have

a future.

By God I do.

Poetry and Image © Copyright, 2022 rivers renewed

It has been a long time coming, and since I don’t like good-byes I’ll use the term farewell. Many of you know I’m not here much anyway but I need to take it a step further and make it official. I’m retired from blogging.

There are a few reasons. My wife’s health hasn’t changed, and she is still receiving treatment. Love is stronger than fear though.

I’ve decided to do more studying. Many of you that have been with me for a while know, that I love anthropology. What is anthropology? The study of people. I’m also studying gender. Yes. Gender.

We all need and enjoy healing and positivity. I have written that way for a long time. That’s how I used to write though. It’s beautiful but that’s not who I am now. Now I write more like the Emma stories, edgy females that don’t take crap from anyone!

Adding a little supernatural is always fun too. Is there an Emma novel waiting to be written? Absolutely.

Finally the extremism from the far-right is the most dangerous element our country has faced in a very long time. The threat is from the right… not the left. The most the left will do is spend your money.

In a few years we may not have democracy. It’s called fascism. I could rant and rave about this all day on a separate blog, but I simply don’t have time. Yes it does affect my writing.

Finally and most importantly is to say thank you! I cannot thank you enough! Some of you have been with me a long time. I’m in tears as I write this part.

Thank you!

If you don’t mind I’d like to hang around once in a while, visiting.

I wish you peace.

Courage to Be Who I Am

“You cannot have courage, without being vulnerable.”

Brene Brown

You see courage involves taking risks. And being vulnerable doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be mistreated or abused. It simply means taking the risk…..to be who you are.

I know that I am gentle, a tenderhearted soul and yes because of that I have been ridiculed and bullied. Yet I refuse to be someone else, not even for your reading pleasure.

I will continue to be a gentle person, embracing spirit, while wrapped in a male body….. simply being who I am. God made me this way. I am willing to take the risks and simply be…..me.

Peace to you.

When the Snow Geese Return

When the snow geese return My Love,

it’ll mean the lake is unfrozen,

and we can walk the trail

with a hopeful sun

brushing our faces

our hands joined

and our hearts

filled

with that young fire,

we’ve always known.

Breathing in the Storm

And when I breathed in that storm I stood my ground

refusing to yield, refusing

the violence of it,

holding onto

my peace

determined to not let go,

until

I could move forward again.

Light Sparkles on the Water

Light sparkles on the water as my mind drifts

reminding myself of how far I have come

and who I am now, overcoming

false narratives.

Positive Encouragement

I follow some amazing poets here on WordPress. If you’re following them too, then you know how wonderful they are. They boggle my mind with descriptive images and wordflow.

I’ve been keeping my work very simple lately, less on descriptive images and more on encouraging, hopeful phrases. Sometimes I sense a proclamation of hope and write it down. I see this as a change inwardly and publicly.

There are several reasons:

It’s been a tough couple of years for all of us. And I just feel the need for each of us to be lifted with some positivity.

It’s been a tough couple of years for our family, which I’ve already mentioned here.

To be honest right-wing extremism disturbs me a great deal and that affects my writing. I’m not much of a Joe Biden fan now but extremists on the right are the greatest threat to our country. I call them the AR-15 Culture. Anyway that’s a rant for another time.

Lastly, but not the least important is my health which includes chronic pain. It doesn’t get better, it gets worse over time. That’s the nature of it.

I don’t feel a need to retire right now, but when I do I will not disappear. I want this blog to always be here so I can post, and read your wonderful work.

So yeah, I’m keeping it simple, hopeful and encouraging. That’s my goal!

Peace. Thank you so much for reading!

Letting Go

We can always walk stronger letting go of our worries,

each released

drifting,

in the wind,

or the snow.

Each Sparrow’s Heart

Each sparrow’s heart never fears the winter wind,

she simply and humbly seeks the warmer air,

knowing full well, of the refuge

and the power of the sun,

no one ever told her,

yet her small heart

so trusting,

so strong

in confidence,

hoping spring will appear,

and that joy comes

in the daylight.

In the Snowstorm

I drew down my hat a little further, and noticed the snowstorm was both beautiful and raging,

my own heartbeats were in my ears in the excitement of the wind,

and I took another step…..grateful

I was still standing.

The storm

gave me strength.

Category: overcoming