There comes a point in the journey where the heart softens—not from giving in, but from waking up. You stop trying to convince others to feel what you feel, to see what you see, or to meet you where you are. You begin to understand that everyone carries a different story, a different storm, a different kind of silence inside.
Emotions rise like tides, not to drown us, but to remind us we are moved by something deeper than logic. And just as the ocean does not ask the shore to change, we can allow others to have their waves, their rhythm, their expression—without losing our own.
Change doesn’t always come from words. Sometimes it comes from the quiet presence of someone who has chosen to live differently. To listen more. To judge less. To stay rooted in their own peace, even when the world around them trembles.
This is the practice: To feel deeply, To love without needing agreement, To honor our path without forcing it upon others.
And So I Stayed
I let the wind speak louder than my need to be right, And the silence hold space for what wasn’t mine to fix. I watched the world spin its stories, And chose to become still.
No need to correct, no urge to convert— Only the pulse of truth softly beating in my chest.
Let them feel. Let them be. And so I stayed— Not to change them, but to remain changed.
Change requires a presence, presence requires a change and both need acknowledgment to serve purpose.
~Kerri-Elizabeth~
Change is inevitable
To all that have followed my Blog for years and been so supportive of me. I appreciate you and love reading your blogs. I enjoy hearing your beautiful stories about life, love, art, and so many other things. Closing my blog to embrace change has been a difficult decision but a necessary one.
I will soon close my blog down. The process of saving and backing up all my work is no small task. Please enjoy reading and writing to me for the next couple of weeks, and then I will send my final good-bye.
I have a new project, I have been working on for years off and on. I am going into the final stages of finishing it. Closing my blog to embrace change will help me focus on this new venture.
This has been a beautiful place to heal and write and so many of you have been such great supporters.
My son’s cancer journey
I started writing for one reason. That soon changed. I began writing my heart and soul out during a long battle. My son, Zakary Ryan, battled Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was 19 when diagnosed. At 24, he left behind his physical body to explore new territory. Nothing has been more heart wrenching and life changing for me. Closing my blog to embrace change hasn’t come without many emotions.
Zakary’s journey changed me and continues to. I am now headed into my 8th year of developing a new and most profound relationship with him. What was taken, lost and emptied out is being filled with new knowledge. He is gently guiding me and as I listen more, he moves me more, sometimes not so gently actually. He is a force to be reckoned with.
It is time to close out this part of my journey. It has been changed and transformed a few times over. I have clarity this part of the journey has served its purpose and place. It’s time to say good-bye and embrace closing my blog for the change it will bring.
Sunshine
Sunshine is my soul voice. It is the deepest, most aligned, and authentic version of me. This happens when I am tuned in, of course. My life as everyone’s does, goes in and out of noisy times. Mine is noisy around me and taking extra effort to stay grounded and focused. As I have taken time from Social Media platforms I have noticed a significant change in my concentration and focus. What was an experiment is moving me to shut it down completely. The next couple weeks I will be shutting down all avenues except email and phone of course to contact me.
It has taken some time to evaluate this decision while entering into a new phase of learning and experiences.
I value this experience with WP and everyone here. Nevertheless, it is time to leave now. I have a very big project ahead. Can I do it all? YES, but will I be fully aware while staying connected to my most authentic self? Closing my blog to embrace change will allow me to focus and be fully attentive.
Good-byes
Isn’t there a phrase that teaches us, when one door closes another opens? It’s time to close this door but keep the experience with so many beautiful lessons.
I have tried different avenues to keep this door open while still pursuing the finish of my current project. Every door slam I hear moves me farther into a period of concentration and full presence. This decision wasn’t made quickly but carefully. Closing my blog to embrace change feels like the right step ahead.
Thank you
Thank you for being here when I really needed other voices and friendships to share with. Meaningful voices here have been such a comfort for me during some really tough times. This blog carries many emotional journeys. It is my story from a depth you don’t see on the surface. Thank you to you all.
Growth takes a lifetime of strength through life’s storms, don’t miss a drop of rain or a ray of sunshine.
~Kerri Elizabeth~
Whisper to me your journey to the sky Speak slowly so I can write them all Share with me every rain drop you’ve felt Every shiver in life’s storms that brings strength As you stand protecting me
Strength through life’s storms creates resilience and endurance. Share with me every ring you earned at your core As you share, I’m listening To the winds shuffling your leaves The crackling among your branches The dew among the grass sharing precious reflections Nature will inspire you with growth Where God so creatively painted all the answers
After enduring the challenges, you will feel sunshine often after gaining strength through life’s storms.
If you like this one, my hope is you will also like the one posted below:
“Sunflowers seek the sun, yet their strength lies in their unseen roots. Depth isn’t just what we see—it’s what we feel.”
Whether in a tree or a sunflower, with eyes closed or open, color there or gone, roots are the traveling wonder with emotional depth.
~Kerri-Elizabeth~
Depth perception colored or not Precision and emotion, traveling wonder Emotions spill upon a silently colored moment Stillness presents depth with or without the amazement of color Can you see beyond your vision Where depth is found by the distance a root grows Surrender your vision to your heart, where emotional depth and perception truly intertwine Where emotional depth perception sets you apart How deep do your roots grow Where are your roots and which way did they go How deep have they grown A tree does not say, this way It is after the storms where depth is gained It was in the heart where emotional depth perception remains
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If this poem resonated with you, you might also enjoy my links below:
When you think it’s too late , when you believe you can’t or you choose “I won’t” for the moment, inspiration will lift you and pull you to your feet.
Will you listen , will you rise, will you pull up courage and determination, will you work hard, will you strengthen where you feel weakest, will you believe in yourself and encourage your own destiny to be all you want to be and find out you can be even more along the way, will you raise the bar for yourself , or not?
Here is a story of my 39 year old daughter, she is an inspiration, a light in the world that carries deep pockets of courage and determination and she believes she can and there for she does.
Many years ago she wanted to be in law enforcement but life had other plans for her to learn from first. She became a very successful business woman at an early age. No surprise there she was determined from day she arrived in the world , actually before that. (that’s another story).
Then she went on to create herself even more success in another career and had two beautiful children. So many changes and so much growth along the way but an unsettled desire to be in law enforcement.
I’d asked her everytime I called” what are you doing”, she’d answer with reservation “I’m at work” , there was something missing, was it desire, a passion, so one day I asked “if you could be anything what would it be?” She answered , a cop or an English teacher.
I don’t know how many times in the day she wondered and thought about all this, but I know it all became a decision and off she went. I have no idea if my questions opened a door that she needed a little crack to see through or if something I said mattered.
What I do know is that it’s important to challenge a thought and ask questions, that’s where exploring ideas, sparking dreams and possibilities come from. It isn’t our place to push, it’s our place to listen, ask and open doors where possibly over time we become so settled in what is we forget what’s possible or believe it’s too late.
Her answers prompted me to ask more questions. I could hear her working through it with more than wonder and one day she said “I’m going to take my law enforcement test.” Then she got her book to study and reinforced her love for working out and she made a goal, her dates kept getting moved closer and closer than planned and soon she was done testing , wow the depth of tests and paperwork were amazing.
I want to tell you this story because her inspiring strength and determination to DECIDE and take the leap is a testament of what inner strength and courage can do, how it’s never too late even if you have already built success, which she did. She could have stayed doing what she was doing forever.
What is success to you?
Here is my painted expression highlighting her new courageous journey. May she always be safe protecting our communities with many brave people like her and may her success in all things bring her and her family happiness and a legacy of courage that continues in for generations.
SONSHINE FOR YOU 