I am Now

I walked through fire, let it sting,

felt the loss of everything.

Ghosts still whisper, scratch my skin,

but I won’t let them pull me in.

Blade of doubt against my throat,

I wear the scars, but still I float.

No savior comes, no hand to hold,

just me—alone, but fierce and bold.

I carve my name in silent stone,

a war-born soul, a heart my own.

No chains, no gods, no need to bow—

I am enough. I am now.

Waiting

It’s that waiting time of year, that pause between seasons when waiting becomes the overwhelming feeling.

But we all need pauses times to prepare for what’s next. Moments of pause to refresh our thoughts, reorganize our priorities, visit our goals, and reconnect to our dreams. Above all, never let go of those dreams. -Mandy Ricks

Winter

Winter always feels like nature’s way of pressing pause, giving us time to reflect and recharge. In these quieter moments, I’ve discovered that the warmth of past adventures, heartfelt connections, and cherished memories bring a little sunshine to my snowy days. So even when the world outside is a blanket of white, I remind myself there’s always a bit of summer within me, waiting to shine through.

Magic days

The trees droop laden with the innocence of snow. Footprints lead the way to somewhere you want to go. While the season chills us we still wander through magic days. Enjoy. -Mandy Ricks

Trust

Maybe it feels like the world is in chaos, with a maniac at the helm yelling, “bring on the fire.” Maybe you feel like running away. But trust, calm will return, wrapped in your insight, and you will want to go home again. -Mandy Ricks

Things do change

So, here we are, dare I say again, holding each other tight, perhaps in an effort to stop from falling apart.

But things do change, and maybe they will for us too. And then we can hold each other close, out of love instead of love instead of desperation. -Mandy Ricks

Find the Wild

Find the wild

Listen quietly to the sound of the wilderness

Trees rustling

birds chirping

the breeze whispering.

Breathe all of it in and you will feel like the wisest of us all.

-Mandy Ricks