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Leslie Ralph

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Stories For Your Beautiful Heart

For being beautifully, gloriously alive.

March 8, 2020 By Leslie Ralph 2 Comments

illustration of a girl with buns in her hair and holding a flower

I see the ghosts of who I was yesterday everywhere. They line familiar streets and glide through my home. There I am, pushing a swing and there, burning the wooden spoon on a hot, empty pan. There I am laughing until I cry and crying until I laugh, practicing handstands against the wall, and sleeping. There…

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Filed Under: Courage

Wishing you a year of gratitude, insight, and wide-open possibility.

December 29, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

illustration of four flowers

On the eve of the new year, he stood on his balcony, leaning over just enough to feel it arrive. The promise and forgiveness of the night embraced him. He pictured the aches and worries of the last 12 months scatter in the winter wind and fly away. Only their lessons remained.   He listened to the…

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Filed Under: Clarity, Courage, Expansion, Grounding, Live Free, Live Happy, Love You, Self-Help, Short Stories

For the love of the wonderland we live in.

December 11, 2019 By Leslie Ralph 3 Comments

I’ve heard tales of a wonderland most enchanted, a blue and emerald planet of water and shifting ground. Gods and goddesses and enormous creatures ruled the places where rows of red houses line the hillsides and the children now play. It is said that feathered beasts came from fearfully great lizards. And before that, from…

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Filed Under: Compassion, Good Work Tagged With: giving back, Love for Mother Earth

Whatever you’re experiencing right now, we’re right there with you.

December 1, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

There are so many beautiful reasons to love yourself. Here’s one to start with… Whatever you’re experiencing right now, whatever thoughts, feelings, or habits, we’re right there with you. You’re never alone in your experiences, and nothing can separate you from our shared human experience. This is the philosophy I share on Day 8 of…

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Filed Under: Compassion, For Courage, Good Work, Love You, Self-Help Tagged With: compassion, loving-kindness practice, self-compassion, thisiswhywepractice

For looking deeper in painful times and smiling at yourself with compassion.

November 17, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

And I smiled. It was the most amazing thing. – from There, I Might Find Peace I once was caught in the blackest night. A starless sky hung over me. Not even the moon could light the way. The cavernous great beyond swooped in to swallow me. Shadows danced upon shadows. They tapped my wrist,…

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Filed Under: Books, Compassion, Lightness, Love You, Poetry, Short Stories Tagged With: clarity, compassion, compassion always, compassion heals, self-compassion, There I Might Find Peace

For hope, comfort, and calling forth guidance.

November 11, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

Dear Universe. Dear Life and Love. Dear Muses and Guides of the Truest Compassion. Dear Higher Self, I love the way the trees’ shadows come to life in the afternoon and how the sunlight dances in their bodies. Please show me more of that. I want to learn to follow the shadows back to the light….

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Filed Under: Clarity, Compassion, Courage, Expansion, Live Happy

A few things I know about fear…and being brave.

October 31, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever hated your fear or wished it would disappear, if you’ve ever shamed it or rejected it…wait, and try this: “Thank you, Fear.” Go ahead and try it now. How does it sound in your voice? “Thank you, Fear, for your unconditional attention.” How does it feel in your body? “Thank you, Fear,…

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Filed Under: Courage, Expansion, For Courage, Live Free

Here’s to showing up.

October 20, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

  Dearest One, Here’s to showing up. To the little bit of courage we found beside our fears and the little bit of kindness. And the time and attention paid to the things that mattered most. May we all be so clear. Here’s to the love we filled our homes with and the hope we filled our…

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Filed Under: Compassion, Courage, Expansion, Live Happy, Words Tagged With: affirmation, blessings, clarity, compassion, Courage, showing up

Do it for the way it feels and the feelings it grows.

October 8, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

You can multiply the good feelings in life through your intention to nurture them, the gentleness with which you hold them, and the generous spirit with which you engage them. The good feelings in life don’t need to be used sparingly. They don’t need to be exchanged for something more valuable. Nor hidden, nor hoarded. There’s…

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Filed Under: Compassion, Lightness, Live Free, Live Happy, Poetry

Something to tide you over through the doubt. (To rooting for goodness.)

October 1, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

  Children run and shout outside my house. Bruised knees and sticky hands speak of good sweat and endless summers. Children look out from the tv screen with fear and hunger in their eyes. Some have no shoes, no parents. Some have innocence in them yet. She sings an aria onstage. Her elegant gown sparkles…

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Filed Under: Courage, Good Work, Grounding, Lightness Tagged With: compassion always, compassion heals, goodness, healing the world, self-compassion

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Hi, I’m Leslie!

I'm a writer and artist on a mission to leave this world a little brighter than I found it. Read More…

you may have seen me on:

Simple Instructions for Loving Yourself

Poetry & Meditation for Inner Peace

A Shop for your Beautiful Heart:

NEW: Written Collection

NEW: Love Free Flowers poster from Love, Child. Love.

NEW: Goddess Poster

Spread Good

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