To women

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous -
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone,
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
Give other people permission to do the same."

-unknown

Amersterdam

we walked along the small brick streets of Amsterdam
first in the sun then the rain
hand in hand we strolled
taking in the old tall narrow buildings
a mix of residential and business
cafes at every corner and more
passing over the glistening waters of the canals
the bells of bikes still ring in my ear
signaling their passing
Van gogh and Rembrant linger on my mind
jazz notes play in my ear
my walk will never be the same
i will carry with me the internal sense of freedom
knowing there are others that live the words
freedom and tolerance
that walk with confidence
it is the culmination of a journey
back to self
a confirmation of truth
and a celebration of the human soul.