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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 5 months, 3 weeks ago

    Dampen your eyes

    Steady as I go
    Inspiration pouring out my soul
    Mind and body collide
    Heart and soul coincide
    Fact and fiction divide
    Making you feel alive
    Sometimes I get real
    I kneel and pray to a god not yet saved
    Steal and pay for the next day
    You’ll find a way
    Just stay, don’t run
    It could way a ton
    My thoughts exactly
    Don’t beg just ask me
    I’ll stay till the light burns out
    Be quiet and listen to your first decision
    Be quiet and run for the day is done
    Another quest tomorrow will avenge sorrow

    Danielle Bettro

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  • Grateful

    What am I most thankful for
    I’m thankful for my children. They’re grown now and they are both healthy, smart and inquisitive. They brighten my day.
    I’m thankful I’m alive to witness everything in life My goal is to learn from my mistakes and I’m thankful I have coping skills.
    I don’t have much but I’m thankful I have a roof over my head.
    I’m thankful I have helped others. I’m thankful I can take constructive criticism and I’m able to endure it.
    I’m thankful to have a sister, that’s about all the family I have.
    I’m thankful for my job and the ability to be able to work with injuries and mental illness, I persevere. I have been in situations where I shouldn’t be alive but I’m thankful that I am.
    I’m thankful that I can see the leaves on the trees change.
    I’m thankful I can breathe, though I don’t have a range
    My life has been hard It’s been marred by sadness and violence but I’ve remained silenced.

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Danielle, It sounds like despite hardships there is so much good in your life and there are many reasons to be thankful. You are strong and resilient. You should be so proud and thankful for your spirit in addition to everything that you named. Thank you for sharing this piece and thank you for being part of The Unsealed. <3 Lauren

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  • RESPECT....Find out what it means to me

    I’m not a robot
    I wasn’t made to spew facts over feelings
    I feel freely and deeply
    I cannot deny my experiences and my story
    I have a story that people may know nothing about
    There is no formula or algorithm to predict what and how intense I will feel.
    I just do.
    So mind what you say and do
    Because you’ve never walked a mile in my shoes

    I’m not a scarecrow full of stuffing and no brain
    I know when I am not being respected
    I know when there is not an equal exchange of time, energy, effort, and love being given
    I know when love is being withheld.
    I have learned the difference between tough love and blatant disrespect under the guise of tough love
    My brain on the best of days tells me of my worth
    My brain on the worst of days may try to lie to me
    But that does not change the truth
    And the truth is that I deserve to be invested in
    I am worth people’s time, energy, effort, and love.
    And I will settle for nothing less.

    I’m not a tin woman
    I have a heart
    It beats, it breaks, it bleeds
    It can shatter, it can also be stitched up
    It is a treasure
    Only those who are worthy of it can hold it
    But it shines for all to see
    Those who approach it must learn to honor it
    For they would want theirs to be received in gentleness and love
    Just as I do.

    I’m not a cowardly lion anymore.
    I have found my courage.
    And if you disrespect me you will hear me roar
    I will roar loudly and mightily for what I deserve
    I will no longer tolerate disrespect
    I will be my own hero.

    I’m not a lot of things
    But I am a human
    I am a daughter of the King
    I had dignity and worth from the moment of my birth
    And that will never change
    So regardless of how you perceive me
    With the utmost respect is how you should receive me.

    Hannah G.

    Voting is open!

    Voting ends September 1, 2024 12:00pm

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    • Hello Hannah,
      I like your references to the Wizard of Oz characters. Your are strong and deserve the utmost respect. Good luck in all your future endeavors.

      Shelley

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    • OMG Hannah, I love the ending: “I had dignity and worth from the moment of my birth
      And that will never change
      So regardless of how you perceive me
      With the utmost respect is how you should receive me.”

      That is so powerful and so good. I love the strength and power that comes across in this piece. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being…read more

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    • Your piece is truly exceptional, thank you for sharing it!

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    • Hannah this piece is so stellar!! I love love love the movie analogies you used. I felt it deeply. We definitely can tell when we are being loved, liked, and cared for respectively or if we are just being tolerated!! You are absolutely correct! This is another piece I need to hear live!! Thank you so much for sharing and please stay well! 🙂

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    • Hi, Hannah. Aiša here. Thank you for sharing your story and its playful undertone with all of us here. Quite the creative approach to a creative approach 😉 I found the subtly of it all to be particularly tasteful. From the moment I read the title, I was eager to find out what it [RESPECT] means to you.

      And this right here:

      “So mind what yo…read more

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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 6 months, 3 weeks ago

    These are not my legs

    These are not my legs,
    I’m watching myself from above
    I wonder…
    Are those mine
    I can’t feel them, holy christ!
    I can see them
    My brains scrambled,
    Astral projection, dmt and me
    I can see,
    Try to be me.

    Danielle Bettro

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  • Lauren Brill shared a letter in the Group logo of Current EventsCurrent Events group 7 months ago

    I am scared and heartbroken

    Last night, I didn’t sleep well, as I had several nightmares. I was haunted by the endless images I saw in the news: A young woman’s naked, lifeless, unconscious (possibly deceased) body being paraded around as a trophy after Hamas attacked young people at a music festival in Israel, a 25-year-old woman begging for her life as she was taken as a hostage and babies whose faces were covered in dust and blood from the bombs thrown near their homes.

    When I awoke this morning, I immediately read the news to see the latest. And while the horror continues on the other side of the world, I was also disheartened to learn that hate was just outside my doorstep.

    People at rallies down the street from where I slept last night are wearing, holding, and celebrating images of swastikas and promoting anti-semitic rhetoric. For the first time in my life, I was and am scared to be Jewish.

    While I have been doing my best to educate myself through the news, friends, and online resources, I am not going to sit here and pretend I fully understand the conflict between Palestine and Israel – because I don’t. And I know that it’s natural and easy to see the world through the lens of my own experiences and identity.

    However, we all, myself included, should see and feel our humanity reflected in every person on this planet. And act accordingly.

    As I try to process these last few days, the violence happening in the Middle East is not just about me, or any one group of people or politics. This cruel attack on innocent people is about all of us. It is a threat to all of humanity.

    No child, no person, whether they share my background or not, whether Palestinian or Israeli (or any other culture, race, or religion), deserves to live or die in such an inhumane way.

    There are a lot of issues we can’t and won’t agree on in this world. But we universally should believe in and tirelessly advocate for love, compassion, and peace for all people.

    And sadly, right now, that’s not the case.

    I am scared and heartbroken as I pray for the victims of violence, our world, and humanity.

    Lauren

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    • I’m at a loss for words to describe the depths of evil for these murders of innocent people. I can’t comprehend humans committing these acts against other humans. Why with all the prayers that happen worldwide daily do things like this even happen? Please stay safe from these protests and God help the Middle East with everything you have.

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  • Advocate or Act, Both?

    Advocating for pushing beyond your
    Comfort zone is easy, it’s just words.
    Applying it to yourself is hard and requires
    A dauntless temperament that’s bolder
    Than your fear, that binds your actions.

    As an introvert who bottles up her
    Emotions and fears, confronting
    Anyone who’s hurt me has a severe
    Strain over me, anxiety flourishing,
    Sweating, combing through vocabulary that Never,

    Ever seems to fit, and always has
    The possibility of being misinterpreted
    As my clarity of thought comes
    With pen, paper, thoughts processed
    Slowly for the least hurt possible attained.

    Consequences of words spoken
    Can’t easily be taken back, and they happen
    To have a lingering effect that’s unspoken!

    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • Aww Malak – Never be afraid to use your voice – whether it be with a pen or a microphone. You are a strong and beautiful person, the world deserves to see your heart. Keep pushing yourself. You got this. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed. <3 Lauren

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  • What if you said "yes....."

    Oftentimes the best opportunities have the strangest beginnings. This invitation to step out of my comfort zone is no different. It started with a meeting invite labeled “employee evaluation” coming into my inbox. Panic gripped me. I work hard, I do what I am supposed to, and I manage my many responsibilities to the best of my ability so in theory I should have nothing to fear, however anxiety and imposter syndrome make employee evaluations seem like imminent doom. So tearful and fearful I went into my evaluation. To my surprise it didn’t go the way I was expecting. My boss offered me a summer missionary position for a catechetical program called Totus Tuus. I had less than a week to decide how my summer would look.

    I had applied for this position in 2018, but was not chosen. Things were simpler then, I thought. Now I had an apartment to take care of, rent and bills that needed to be paid, and I was in the middle of looking for a new roommate as my old roommate had recently moved out. As with many things I brought it to prayer. The words that came to mind were affirming that I should accept this position. My mind and heart were filled with the words of Mary in Luke’s gospel “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to your word.”

    Still trying to discern I told my mom about the opportunity thinking that her practical side would find some reason not to accept it. But I was shocked to find that she was agreeable to it and was willing to work with me to make it happen. With that I decided to say “yes” even though I had no idea what I was saying “yes” to.

    Training began and it became a little clearer as to what a typical day would look like. But still I had no idea the extent to which God would stretch and grow me throughout my time as a Totus Tuus missionary. After a commissioning ceremony it was time to go out to our first parish and to teach the children about the kerygma (first proclamation of the Gospel) and salvation history (all the events that lead to Jesus coming into the world and saving us through His death and resurrection….in summation the whole Bible) and the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. What a tall order for just one week!

    This Totus Tuus program allowed me to be a fool for Christ. I normally work in a very professional setting and so there are certain expectations of how I will act, speak, and even look. This opportunity to be a Totus Tuus missionary allowed me to become more child-like. I learned to not take myself too seriously. I sang songs about bananas while stuffing a banana in my mouth, I pretended that I spent 6 summers at magic camp and pulled flowers out of a top hat after praying for them, I got hit with a water balloon covered in paint. I laughed and I played, and I experienced joy probably more than I ever have before.

    Another way that I noticed God stretching me is in my spiritual motherhood. I’m a single woman with no children, but at every parish I felt this overwhelming sense of protectiveness over these children and I found myself asking questions that I imagine that every parent asks themselves on a daily basis:

    Do they know that I love them? How have I made that visible to them today?
    Do they know how much God loves them?
    What is it that I needed to know at their age and how do I share that with them?
    Is this moment a learning moment or do they just need someone to empathize with them?

    As the weeks went on I found my spiritual motherhood growing in a way that it hadn’t before. I found myself tending to scraped knees with band-aids, working to mend hurting hearts through having honest conversations with the children and sharing a bit of my own story with them, I found myself each day just loving them with a profound love and delighting in them. This profound sense of motherhood also opened me up to my daughterhood. I came to realize that in the same way that I had delighted in these children, God (my Father) had always delighted in me.

    Another thing that Totus Tuus taught me was healthy detachment. We spent only one week at each of the five parishes we were assigned to. In that one week as mentioned above I came to know and love the children we were teaching. I’ve never been good at letting go….for crying out loud my first and last name combined spells “hang on.” It was rough having to leave them but I also knew that I had to trust that God would water the seeds that had been planted that week. Also, it was always in the back of my mind that this might be my only opportunity to be a Totus Tuus missionary so I couldn’t let my identity be defined by my position or what I was doing because in the end it was a temporary gig. Again I was free to lean into my own daughterhood.

    Looking back I realize how Totus Tuus was also an invitation to be vulnerable and to be honest with my teammates about my wounds and to be honest with myself about where I am in the healing process. I ended up sharing with my team about my mental health issues and about my triggers. I had been so afraid to open up to them as we had only just met each other several weeks earlier. But when I shared I was met with love and compassion; I was met where I was. One of my teammates even went so far as to come up with another handshake because she knew that fist bumps trigger me. There were a few challenging moments where some triggers were brought up unknowingly by the people we were ministering to and in those moments, I was faced with my own brokenness and was prompted to ask God for healing of these deep wounds. This honesty has continued even after Totus Tuus has ended. I recently shared with my team members that I am praying a certain prayer for my healing for 54 days and each of my team members is joining me in praying this prayer for the entire 54 days. It has been so beautiful how this experience of community has invited me to be honest about my struggles and how they have rallied around me in them and have interceded for me.

    Totus Tuus was one of the best “yeses” that I’ve ever said. I have grown so much in my identity as a daughter of God, in my friendships, in vulnerability and in my leadership skills. So I challenge you dear reader if you are at a crossroads trying to decide between pursuing a good opportunity or not don’t decide based off your comfort zone. Instead ask yourself “what could happen if I say yes?” And then trust that God has a plan better than you could ever imagine.

    It is true that the best opportunities have the strangest beginnings, and it is also true that the steps we take out of our comfort zone, the “yeses” we say while trusting God often produce an abundance of growth. Be not afraid.

    Hannah G.

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    • Aww this is great. It sounds like you stepped into a space where you could truly let your guard down, and be your complete self. And in return, you were shown love and acceptance. I am so glad you said yes. Sounds like an amazing opportunity. <3 Lauren

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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 7 months, 1 weeks ago

    Walking

    I’m all alone walking and I’m stoned feel the night rise behind my back I’ve got a flashlight but it’s still black
    I think it’s lack of comprehension but I’m not sure there’s no simple way that I can cure the tension
    Intervention, still alone hanging by a thread on the edge of the world
    Oh, did I forget to mention
    My dear you’ve gone to far
    It was a slight intention by
    Regression, back to basics
    Stay to listen to my submission
    While I revise my inclination.

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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 7 months, 1 weeks ago

    Go

    My mind is mine, I love it so.
    My time is timed, wish it would go slow
    The bind is tight though I see the light
    Intervening capsules of life defy the integrity of thought.
    Insignificance has brought a rapture upon all that is lost.

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Danielle, Your words beautifully capture the complex nature of the mind and the passage of time. The struggle between the desire for slow moments and the rushing reality is relatable. The interplay of thoughts and the sense of insignificance can be overwhelming, but remember that even in the chaos, there is always a glimmer of light and hope. Keep…read more

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  • Perfect standards

    Hey you!
    I wanted to let you know you are doing a great job in your life. Your getting things done and making things happening for yourself, kicking ass and taking names. Your mother and father are still together which is endearing and you sister is going to college, you have the best relationship with her.
    You’ve went to school as well what a feat! You graduated and became a forensic psychologist, and look at your body it is amazing, What have you been doing!?
    How are your kiddos doing? They must be getting big. Your son has also been to college, he’s a great kid! Your daughter what a beautiful young lady she’s 13 now and made high honors in school.
    You are so lucky,You have no family drama…
    Danielle, Your mom and dad raised you right, You’re a great mom yourself. always tending to your children making sure they have everything they need. The farm house you live in is gorgeous, and it’s so emaculate how do you do it all and keep it together without losing your sanity, You’ve always been a patient person so that’s not hard to believe. I wish I had The luck you have, always winning on the lottery, man… you have it made!

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Danielle! I love this! You have such a strong sense of what will and does give you peace in life. I can feel the warmth of home in your writing. Your life will unfold as you plan, I just know it. It is all in your control. Your heart will guide you. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. Happy Holidays! <3 Lauren

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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of Magical MomentsMagical Moments group 7 months, 2 weeks ago

    The jacket

    To a local bar we went with the intention of having a drink and blowing off some steam. at this point in time I was at the end of a bad relationship, and could have never imagined what lye await that night.
    We walked in took a left and sat down. As we watched the bar stools like hawks, I noticed this good looking man out of the corner of my eye. At the time I didn’t pay much attention to him, just a good looking guy right? Except there was something,
    Some seats finally opened up at the bar and Michelle and I took our rightful seats, ordered a drink and the night began… Getting up to use the bathroom after two or three drinks, I came back to take my seat once again, low and behold he (The good looking guy from earlier) had the nerve to take my seat. Me feeling a little tipsy and ballsy decided to tap on his shoulder and give him a peace of mind because at that point I was not in the mood to play this game, I couldn’t believe this guy
    He turned to me and with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, he exclaimed he was sorry and gave me my seat back like a gentleman. I was impressed to say the least, But still just chalked it up to some bar banter. I’m not going to lie though my heart did begin to race a little, it was that feeling again But why was I feeling this with someone I just met we hadn’t even really talked what was I thinking, so we talk some more and suddenly we began kissing… God it was awesome I couldn’t stop myself it was like I released my body into his and everything fell into place exactly how it should have, it was like a storybook it felt amazing.
    So here I am in a bar with my friend kissing a man I never met before, but it felt so right, so good. This kissing went on for a good hour and a half, this was in front of everyone in the bar and I could have given a shit less…then
    it was time to go like someone blowing out of flame when it gets too tall, so we exchanged numbers and I left simple as that you say? (Oh no no no) certainly not. I Get in the car and knew I made a huge mistake, I needed to have him with me. If I didn’t act fast I might never see him again I told my friend this, she told me “go get him!”… so I ran back in as fast as I could. Was I wrong? was I making a mistake? was this a bad move? was he going to turn me down? who knows… I’m just going to do it. So I get up the nerve to run back in I spot him and I grab his arm and lead him to my car, he came! holy crap! he went with it! thank God!
    What was I supposed to do now I had no idea, so I just went with it. We dropped Michelle off and went back to get his car, he asked me if I smoked I said I did, so we engaged in a bowl. It was awesome I finally had someone to smoke with. It was so relaxing and mellow to be hanging out with him He’s amazing, how did this happen?

    Nowadays he’s the love of my life, I couldn’t have asked for anything more out of that one night at the bar.

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Wow! What a cool story ! Good on you that you went back in the bar and got him. The regret you would have felt by wondering “what would have happened”? is the worst. The “what if?” is a terrible feeling. Way to go Danielle. 😊

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  • db-cooper shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 7 months, 2 weeks ago

    Comment yourself

    I am just me,
    D aring
    A ccommodating
    N eoteric
    I nspiring
    E empathetic
    L evel headed
    L oyal
    E clectic

    These are My attributes as well as my faults

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Hi Danielle. This is really good. Simple. Yet a few words can tell a total story sometimes. Very creative. Very nice to meet you. Hope you have a wonderful weekend

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      • Thanks Jim! Figured I’d bring it back to the basics I remember writing these when I was in school when they first started teaching us about poetry I hope you enjoy reading some of my stuff!

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        • Heyyyyy 🙂
          Im gonna read more for sure. That one I responded to hit home cuz my brother (way more creative than me) did two of those many years ago for my mom and dad. Basics, as you say. But says a lot. Eclectic? Daring ? Nice. Help me out tho. Neoteric? What’s that?

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  • Exposed

    Hello all!
    My name is Danielle and I’ve been writing since I was 10 yrs old “not professionally” But for me, for my sanity for me to understand me! for me to understand other people and for me to make sense of the world. It’s something that always came natural when there was trauma in my life. somewhere I could hide from everything and hear myself out loud.
    I think it’s the people who have a hard time getting their emotions out verbally in the presence of others, that make the best writers!
    I’ve been inside out and upside down in my own head, It can be really scary sometimes and it can be very endearing at others.
    I will end it with one of my favorite quotes from One of my favorite authors,
    “I was not proud of what I had learned, but I never doubted that it was worth knowing.”
    Hunter s. Thompson

    Danielle Bettro

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  • I pick a peach rose and rested on its side

    When we talk about those we have lost it doesn’t have to mean someone has died physically, rather someone you have lost connection with or someone that decided to leave you mentally.
    I chose this topic because this relationship that I no longer have with my mother has impacted me greatly in my life,
    This was not my decision by any means but people have different reasons for things that they do.
    I have not seen heard or talked to my mother in 27 years it seems like a travesty but in actuality it’s probably a good thing.
    A little backstory:
    My mother has always been into hard drugs as long as I can remember I remember crawling on the floor through needles in my diapers and I remember the (tax man) she called him coming to her house a couple times a week with a briefcase. God only knows what was in that briefcase. As I grew up I remember my mother getting taken out on a stretcher by the ambulance and police for what I have no idea I was probably about 6 years old, My mother had a lot of mental health issues along with the drug use, My grandmother ended up sectioning her a few times I can remember bringing her to the hospital and watching her fight, kick, punch and bite The orderlies it took five to assist in getting hurt tied down in the bed so she wouldn’t hurt anyone for herself anymore. Know that I’m grown and I look back at these instances on baffled at how a mother can let her child see and hear and witness all of these things at such a young age it breaks my heart but I’ve learned to cope. I don’t think you can ever cope fully to a situation like this flashbacks always happen for me I have PTSD and night terrors about things that used to happen I remember being woken up at 2:00 in the morning when I was 5 to be told that we had to get out of the house and go live somewhere else (We were living with my mother’s boyfriend at the time)
    This happened on a number of occasions with different men. I went to a new school every year back and forth to my mom and dad’s never had a stable place.
    I do feel bad for her she missed out on so much of her life as well as mine But I do not feel bad taking my sanity back and getting myself well. Like they say when you’re at the bottom of the barrel there’s no where else to go but up so you just got to keep trucking everybody has their own faults and decisions that they have to make. I do believe drugs obviously have a hand in all of this but I don’t believe that she didn’t have the option not to get involved with it those are our own decisions to make and the path we choose does impact others and to not think of it that way is selfish. For my sake in my kids sake I chose to break the ties with her she scares me And I don’t want my kids to ever feel like I did around her so they also have never met her. I feel like I want to miss her but I also feel like that’s letting my guard down and I’m so hyper-sensitive to not becoming her I know I’m not her and I know I don’t make these decisions that she makes and I know that I love my children and would never put them in harm’s way I just can’t wrap my head around The situation still I’m 41 years old now and I’m not involved in heavy drugs I do what I need to do to survive and I’ve got a pretty level-head on my shoulders so I guess I can thank her for that, but as for showing me how to be a mother I will take the credit for that
    With all this in mind I guess the lesson learned is no one to walk away when you’re getting into deep your mental health is not worth it and the detrimental aftermath it does to everybody else
    So again I’d like to say goodbye to my mother. that part of my life is over thank God.

    Danielle Bettro

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    • Danielle,
      Such a beautiful thing to be vulnerable! I can relate on so many levels the grief a mother can bring. I also had a mother who was on hard drugs, cared more about herself than her own innocent child. It is such a loss for the one who cannot fulfill the duty placed onto their path. The strength this can give us, seeing the light is the…read more

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    • Wow. What a great letter. Sorry you had it rough like that. What an unbelievable strength you have. To stay true to yourself and not let your guard down. I can’t imagine the courage it required to say goodbye like that. You seem like a really strong girl Danielle

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  • Soulful Respect (acrostic)

    ‘Who’s worthy of respect?’ Asks the
    Oh so gentle soul. ‘Me, perhaps?’
    Replying tentatively, I question whether
    The ‘me’ others see is laudable with my
    Honesty, diplomatically voiced,
    Yet still encases my faith, ethics, and friendship.

    Offering an ear, a hug, a friend, a listener
    Free of malice and judgment, that’s never a jeer.

    Resounding devotion can never
    End, as long as your true self reverberates
    Soulfully within a frequency received by
    Peers and kin who feel the same.
    Enter into the ring to battle out the
    Captivating desires leading you astray
    To a world where your worth is bound by trends.

    ©️ Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

    Voting is open!

    Voting ends September 1, 2024 12:00pm

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    • ‘Offering an ear, a hug, a friend, a listener
      Free of malice and judgment, that’s never a jeer.”

      This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing <3 Lauren

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  • Respect at the end of the tunnel

    Respect is earned, respect is learned
    I was not respected as a child, for a while
    But have learned to endure and persevere through It all
    I don’t know when to stop And that’s probably helped me along the way through my journey that I was given. Everyone is at Liberty to be respected as well as me. I’ve been writing since I was 11 about my trials and tribulations through this hype and mediocrity of life.
    I’ve given my life to this world and hope I have inspired some. I’ve been there done that, that’s fact
    I’ve saved a life, made a life and gave a life
    I’ve caved in and stayed in throughout it all.
    Everyone deserves to be respected and I finally acknowledged that I deserve it too.
    I’m not a cocky person by any means but I believe I’m a good writer because I write from the heart and stay true to myself. I’m honest when I write And I hope it inspires others because you all inspire me!

    Danielle Bettro

    Voting is open!

    Voting ends September 1, 2024 12:00pm

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    • Danielle, I was always told the best writing is writing that comes from the heart. I love this piece. It really shows how soft your heart is — even thought you have been through so much that could have easily hardened you. This is beautiful and you are beautiful. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed family. <3 Lauren

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 8 months, 1 weeks ago

    Twilight's Darkened Light

    The night’s fading darkness
    Is illuminated by filaments that glimmers
    With piercing reddish hues
    Into a horizon of fading darkened blues.

    With each touch of brilliant, glinting light
    The scenery is transformed, bright
    As a white pigeon in heightened flight,
    Soaring, like Icarus, too near the sun’s slight

    Heat that tenderly caresses its feathery
    Wings across all living things, bravely
    Broaching the new day optimistically,
    Knowing that man’s destruction will invariably

    Alter the breathtaking beauty of sunrise,
    Twisting its vibrancy into shades
    Of tenebrous grey, colorless, and lifeless,
    As everything becomes hopeless.

    Let each new day be your oath
    To be stronger than the sun’s breadth,
    As you emulate its depth
    Of strength, that reigns above all in stealth.

    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • Malak, I love this part: Let each new day be your oath
      To be stronger than the sun’s breadth,
      As you emulate its depth
      Of strength, that reigns above all in stealth.

      Check out our newsletter today. I will feature a link to this poem.

      Lauren

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  • Zoned out

    Think outside not in,
    Don’t worry it’s not a sin.
    Make it a point to explore,
    You’ll want nothing more than to endure
    The scene will make you wary, and it might seem scary.
    Push on and see what makes me, me
    It’s the only way to learn how to discern,
    And know your limit of concern.
    Your in the zone and now your on your own.

    Danielle Bettro

    Voting is closed

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    • Hi, Danielle. I really liked your poem. It was very heartfelt. Thanks for sending me a friend request. I appreciate it. I’m not on any like social media platforms, but if you ever want to talk, please email me at info@tracinealspeakerpoet.com
      I mean it. I’m concerned about you with some of the post you wrote. Again, don’t hesitate to email me. No…read more

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      • Thank you very much for your concern and reaching out I didn’t mean to worry anybody I just use writing as a form to get everything deep inside out thanks for accepting my friend request! And I will thank you again Traci!I appreciate you

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        • My apologies for the late response. I respond to my emails more because I have a busy schedule, that’s why I told you if you ever need to talk please reach out that way. I monitor my email a lot more. I am glad you are well and writing is your outlet. I pray you continue to feel free to share your heart and never hesitate to ask for help when you…read more

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    • Danielle! I love this poem. Short but sweet. Very direct but impactful and inspiring. I absolutely love it. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of our Unsealed family. <3 Lauren

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  • My first cover letter

    Dear Mr. —

    Did you know the NFL’s Ryan Grant also participated in basketball and track and field during his time at Don Bosco Prep School in New Jersey? Did you know the NBA’s Adonal Foyle still holds the record in New York for most points in a high school tournament game? Did you know former Suffern High School girls’ lacrosse star Crysti Foote is a member of the Canadian National Team and is recognized as one of the best female players in the world? Inspired by the commitment and passion all great athletes demonstrate, I know both the technicalities of sports and interesting facts about the athletes themselves, which is why I believe if I become a reporter for MSG Varsity I will be a powerful conduit between the athletes and the tri-state community. I will ask questions the viewers want to know and receive honest answers from athletes who respect my knowledge.

    My confidence in my future success is based on the achievements of my past as well as my present occupation. As a young 21-year-old college graduate, I began writing for NBA.com and WNBA.com. With my own swagger, I entered NBA and WNBA locker rooms to interview athletes double my size among journalists twice my age. Publishing hundreds of articles and blogs on NBA.com, WNBA.com, D-league.com, NikeWomen.com, and WomensProSoccer.com, I have also had my fair share of on-air opportunities. Currently, I am a co-host for On the Mike With Mike Sherman, a weekly entertainment, lifestyle, and sports show that airs on a CBS affiliate (My33) in South Florida. Last season, when the 49ers took on the Giants in New Jersey, I was there to interview athletes and report back on the night’s events for CBS’ San Francisco affiliate. I have reported local news on Long Island and worked as a sports reporter for Artsis Media, where I shot, edited, wrote, and produced all my own stories.

    Throughout my tenure at Columbia University, I majored in sociology and focused on the sociological impact of sports. Through my 40-plus page senior thesis, I discovered that to have longevity and acceptance as a female sports reporter, you must be a sports connoisseur yourself. Voted biggest jock in my high school senior superlatives, I have lived, breathed, and loved sports throughout my life. I believe if given a chance I will be recognized and respected by the sports world for telling compelling stories and conducting in-depth thought-provoking interviews. In other words, I’m a talented young recruit with an All-American future and would love to help the MSG Varsity team work its way to the top of the game.

    Sincerely,

    Lauren Brill

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    • Wow that’s awesome! You wrote for the NBA and WNBA!!This letter is a huge inspiration because I want to do podcasting and interview sports players and artists.

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  • malakkc shared a letter in the Group logo of PoetryPoetry group 9 months ago

    Hunger to Survive

    The lion lays quietly atop an overhanging hill.
    He waits, watches in the vain fervor that his prey
    Will come to him in deadly night like a diet pill
    That will stop his hunger and permit his teeth to stay
    Sharp, glistening white, creating a shiver of fear
    Of their ferocity and ability to tear apart an arm,
    Or important extremities that flash their spear
    Of speed trying to outrun the King.

    The atmosphere of fear is so authentic
    That I can feel the lion’s eyes shifting silently,
    Watching guardedly, waiting patiently to pounce happily
    On his unsuspecting prey. His jaws are cave like
    In their imposing strength and force of bite.

    Never fear the lion, for you know he attacks
    To survive, not for pleasure.
    Fear those who appear like sheep, but are
    More serpent or fox, for their poisons
    Attack the soul and destroy lives as if doing you favors.
    ©️Malak kalmoni chehab ©️

    Malak Kalmoni Chehab

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    • This piece is so creative. You are so talented. Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of our little family. Keep writing. You are changing the world. <3 Lauren

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