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Leslie Ralph

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Poetry

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

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

I Thought I Had Demons

May 27, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

  I used to think there was something bad and broken in me. Some damaged bits hidden deep down, out of my reach.  They spoke to me, whispering riddles and sending me on impossible quests. They mocked my failure when I came back empty-handed.  Demons, I called them. Dragons, ghosts, skeletons, monsters.  I thought I…

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Filed Under: Lightness, Live Free, Poetry, Short Stories Tagged With: beautiful heart, Courage, Expansion, Healing, Lightness, Look Inside, self-love

Words for Waking Up

May 13, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

red and pink abstract watercolor with text that reads my new story begins today, I will tell it through the words of love until the word reflects it back to me, then, I will tell it again

Awake, fresh eyes crack. It hurts for just a second as dawn’s light washes me. After a long, walking sleep, I’m relieved to see the sun again. “Felt like night forever,” I say to her with a bittersweet mix of thanks and regret. “Thank you for waking me.” The monsters lurking in my room transform before me….

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Filed Under: Lightness, Live Free, Poetry, Short Stories Tagged With: beautiful heart, Expansion, Healing, Lightness, Look Inside, Metamorphosis, self-love, Waking Up

Life’s always talking like that.

May 6, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

I discovered a wildflower growing through a crack in the 3rd-floor landing. It’s baby blue face brought life to the concrete between the jewelry store and the ice cream shop. “What are you doing here?” I wanted to ask. But something in its easy stillness, the assuredness in its silence made me pause. It seemed…

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Filed Under: Lightness, Poetry, Story Tagged With: Life, Magic, nature, Short Story, Simple Lessons

This is life, as far as I can see.

March 11, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

abstract watercolor with text that reads: As far as I can see, it will be me who restores this heart to peace

As far as I can see, there’s been nothing wrong with me. But all this time, I thought I was broken. All this time, I feared what I might find inside. All this time, I saw myself as unsafe. And all this time, I wondered why I hadn’t fixed it yet. As far as I…

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Filed Under: Live Free, Love You, Poetry, Words Tagged With: acceptance, inner peace, mindfulness, self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love, words of wisdom

You bring the light. Peace Week Day 5!

March 1, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

Want to know the most important thing I’ve learned about peace? It’s that darkness is only made scarier by trying to outrun it and that you can always find the light through compassion. Light is in the letting go. It’s in the soft, open hands and heart. It’s being here and connected. And choosing to…

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Filed Under: Lightness, Live Free, Live Happy, Love You, Poetry, Words

What I’m here for. ( A vow.) Peace Week Day 3

February 27, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

What I’m here for. (A vow.) From There, I Might Find Peace. I will remember goodness in my darkest times. I will be moved. I will learn what it means to inhabit this human body on this wild and magic planet we call home. I will leave the world a little brighter than I found it….

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Filed Under: Grounding, Lightness, Poetry, Words

5 days of peace, love, and strength – starting now!

February 25, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

Her heart felt so heavy, she wished she could pull it out and leave it behind. She’d go through her life without it if she could, for she couldn’t be heartbroken without a heart to break. “Heart, be still,” she commanded. “No one’s moving an inch. Not me, not you, not my body, not my…

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Filed Under: Love You, Poetry, Words

Be insatiable.

January 8, 2019 By Leslie Ralph Leave a Comment

I found a little jar in a shop window, clear with blue paint chipped off at the rim. I carried it home in tissue and twine, rinsed it, and set it in the window to collect sunlight by day, starlight by night. I placed a feather from the yard inside, hawk I think, and a…

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Filed Under: Expansion, Grounding, Lightness, Live Free, Poetry

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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…

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Simple Instructions for Loving Yourself

Poetry & Meditation for Inner Peace

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