Hidden Halo

By Holly Stanbrough

Holly
I write because its my healing power.
I write for others who cant find the words to heal.
I write because I dont know how not to write.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504977203

Holly Stanbrough

You all have touched my life. Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey with me. There is several ways I could describe myself -Mother, Sister, career Woman, Published Author, Pro Bodybuilder, Fitness Model but the one that describes me with the most honors is, survivor. Living with a chronic illness, multiple sclerosis, gives my life new meaning. My life with MS has forever been changed, so many obstacles, so many road blocks, but so many blessings. Each day my life is touch in ways I hope many will never have to experience. However, each person, across the miles that contacts me that reaches out to me; to hear my story near and far, down the road and across the miles has forever changed my life more than any descriptive word I could ever use to express how my heart feels. To my amazing MS’ers and those who struggle regardless of what your struggle is each time you reach out to me, it helps me see what a true blessing God has given me. See MS is not a sentence to me, it’s not the end to me, it’s the beginning of simply changing hopeless to hope, purposeless to purpose and worthless to self-worth.

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© 2016 Holly Stanbrough. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/11/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7719-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-7720-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016901789

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

WHY DO I WRITE

Poems

As We Sing

Seek Beyond

Don't Cry for Me

Don't Let the Sun Go Down

Drifting

F.L.Y

I'd Fall

Impact of a Stranger

Maybe Miracles

Music In My Soul

Oh My Soul

The Private Song

Seek Beyond

Sunday Rain

The Door

The Hand of Time

The Home

The Resting Spot

Tiny Blessings You Find

Upon This Ground

The Walk of the Champion

Walk On

Walking

When I Get Where I'm Going

Where To Go

The Beauty I See

You Wake Me

Quotes

Real Talk

WHY DO I WRITE

It's my HEALING Power.

I write because the emotions I felt upon coming face to face with a chronic and devastating illness engulfed me with fear. It was breath taking. I needed a place to deposit those fears, so my heart would not explode with the reality of this illness, so I could begin to HEAL. I felt at the time that I would lose things I enjoyed, experienced, and loved; I wanted to hold on tightly to my most cherished memories of my life, before they became lost. The struggles and obstacles, the tears and joys, the love and smiles, the successes and failures, all surround me through memories. They have become the stories and quotes of my life they are my HEALING power.

My HEALING Power of Writing

Writing about your life can be one of the most courageous things a person can do; putting yourself out there in a vulnerable state for others to view, takes a courageous act, as well as brings some amazing power of healing to the soul. Writing can heal; it allows the pain a place to go. The paper in which the pen connects with listens, it becomes a confidant, the supporter, and safe outlet. When you write long enough, putting each word to paper, searching for the perfect words to express your thoughts, you walk away feeling cleansed, a sense of release, and a heightened sense of self. Putting the words to paper became a powerful healing experience for me.

I write because it's the lens through which I see the world; it helps me find answers and explanations to my place within it. Writing is simply a part of me; it's who I am; it's my soul speaking. I write because I am NOT super human without pain and struggles. We all experience lifes ups and downs, pains and joys, heartbreak and love. I write because it helps me connect with others who may not have the words of expression they need to heal. I write because we all have a story, but not everyone is ready to share it. I share mine because perhaps my stories and my words may bring healing power to others. I write because I am NOT SUPER HUMAN.

I write because the work engages me. When I'm in the middle of writing, time stops, and worries disappear; and, for at a moment in time, catharsis appears, and the wounded, the struggle, the fear or sadness, is sent forth in a stream of healing. I write because I feel it's my best expression of self. Through writing, I hope to lend a voice to others who may otherwise struggle to articulate their thoughts and emotions and bring understanding to all their stories of life.

Writing is also my creative outlet of expression, words spoken that others find hard to hear. But, in the written form, they become easier to digest and accept. Expressing feeling in the verbal sense is difficult for many. Allowing the paper and pen to speak as an alternative form often gives a sense of expression in a safety zone. Hence, Love letters, Dear John letters, and the millions of Greeting Cards sold annually; where we choose to express our thoughts and feelings that are otherwise difficult for us to put into words.

~Holly~

I write because it's my HEALING POWER.

I write for others who can't find the words to heal.

I write because I don't know how NOT to write.

Dedicated to;

All the MS Warriors and anyone who has felt powerless in their journey

My Daughter, Brittany

For her endless support and sheer positive impact in my life.

Poems

As We Sing

A word spoken is never wasted

When you sing from the heart

Be cautious of your expressions

Share easily and ever so kindly

Speak softly

Never selfishly

Remembering

Often our words bring comfort

As easily as they bring pain

As we sing

Sometimes we search

Often not knowing

The path we need

We seek out others

That brings us comfort

To help us travel

Looking for the words to help us sing

Reflect on the past

Never rationalize

As you begin to speak

Always remembering

To speak ever so gently

Abundance you will find

When you search

Openly

When you sing from your heart

Sometimes we fail

In the expression of our words

When sung harshly

We succeed

When we speak softly

Openly and never selfishly

We need not

Be afraid to sing to another

Share compassion and kindness

Help them open the door

As you sing

~Flexy~

Sing from your heart, and others will be inspired to sing along.

As we encounter people in our everyday lives, at times we simply meet them and walk on, to never give another thought of the words we share with them. Possibly, our words may give hope to a soul in need or possibly our words crush a starving heart. Your encounter is unknown, often that person may or may not be lost looking for those answers to life's Why's. We often don't understand nor realize at times how impactful our expressions can be to others. So friends, listen with interest and speak with kindness. You may touch them; you may help them; you may give HOPE to them. Always remember, our actions create the actions of others.

Seek Beyond

Look beyond what you see

Seek beyond what you think

There's much more to me

And deeper than skin deep

It's not a game of popularity

Or red carpet success to me

It's about becoming the best of me

Seek to know

Put aside assumptions

Or what you know

See beyond the object that simply stands before thee

You shall begin to see

What becoming the best of me means

Question and seek inquisitively

Beyond the face, a figure or success of thee

Don't see it, as what it used to be

Look at it as a portrait

A work of art

Created from a purpose

Seek what's beyond the frame

People want to be found

People want to be seen beyond

Just the lines

Seek what fills the canvas

Beyond what you see

Our fear is not that we are inadequate

It's that we are not seen for who we are

We climb the ladder to success

Walk the carpet adorned from the past

But

Many will never see

For what's beyond

If they don't seek to see

Inquiry brings the story to life

But

One must read to understand

The novel

Seek beyond

~Flexy~

We can make more friends in a few months by seeking beyond and becoming interested, than we can in a life of trying to get people interested.

Don't Cry for Me

We fear

We will forget

Your silhouette

The smell

The softness of the touch

The warmth of your kiss

Never will the vision fade

The feelings

Will always be

Close to me

It is carved in my heart

Etched so perfectly

Don't cry for me

Hold my hand

Walk with me

Allow me

To show you

The blessing of this love

God gave me

When He chose me

He smiled with me

Allowing me

To help you

Understand

Never will you forget me

I will always walk with you

Don't cry for me

Sing out loud

Embrace this love

Be happy

Never feel guilty

To enjoy what God gave you

Never forget

The trueness

The happiness

Sometimes sadness

That brings us

To this day

Be strong for me

Don't cry for me

One day

It will all be

So crystal clear

The twinkle you see

Will be me

Shining down before you

As I place my hand upon you

Helping you

Ill then

Be strong for you

Don't cry for me

Join me in this embrace

God's choice He has made for me

~Flexy~

Sometimes the most difficult encounters bring us the most rewards. The windows from which we see our sorrows often allow us to feel the trueness of a grateful heart.

Dedicated to those who have suffered a loss - a loved one, a career, a pet, or health; I reflect. I looked inside myself, at my own illness, to a time when so many of the people that cared about me, were so overwhelmed with the possibility of my fate. I thought to myself, Don't Cry for Me", Celebrate with me, the trueness of this choice God has made. Be grateful, and allow your heart to see the true vision. He has given me, he has allowed me to see my blessings in a way I would not have seen, he allowed me to see the things I took for granted; He has allowed me to wake in appreciation of the opportunity of another day, things that perhaps I would have never seen before. SO, don't Cry for them, celebrate with them.

Don't Let the Sun Go Down

What do I do

Breathless and full of fear

Paralyzed in the darkness that lays at bay

Why can't I hear you

Why do you hide where I can't see you

Do I step to the edge

Trust I will feel you as you rear your face

Do I fight

Or do I give in to this new world explained to me that feels so dark

What do I do

Sit and watch the sun go down

Or do I kneel and pray

The sun never goes down

What do I do

Do I listen to the statistics they say define my fate

Or let my will to fight lead me thru the dark

Do I listen to the silence of this illness guiding me

As it whispers to me -- trust me

I'm a blessing to thee

Let me lead