“With an Open Heart” by Marlies Soltys
You will rise
To the girl at the window —
heart filled with fear, tears streaming down your face.
This is not your fault.
You did nothing wrong.
It’s not your responsibility, not yours to fix.
You will be okay.
Yes, you will remember…
But this will not haunt you, nor define you.
You will heal, you will rise.
You will find solace and peace
with the animals in the pasture and the barn,
in nature, in books, in running.
The outdoors will soothe you.
Your imagination, your creativity, your spirit,
will not be deterred.
You will chart your own course,
with guidance and encouragement from others —
who see, who care, who will help.
You will be determined —
forge ahead with enthusiasm, go through doors
you never imagined opening for you.
Your path will wind,
take you unexpected places, bring new opportunities,
and you will always try, always learn.
Yes, you will stumble —
falter, make mistakes and struggle,
but you will rise and keep moving ahead.
You will build a circle,
of friends, colleagues and strong women
who inspire you, see you and lift you up.
They will accept you —
just as you are, for who, and for all that you are.
They will have your back, in good times and bad.
With them you’re safe —
to express joy, wonder, happiness,
but also sadness and despair.
They will stand by you,
encourage you to share your gifts, your talents
— to shine your light.
In time, you will believe
you are worthy — of acceptance, of celebration,
of love and self-love.
To the girl at the window —
you will find your way past the fear, past the tears.
You will heal, and you will rise.
Sandi Knight © 2021
Last fall 
I am fortunate to have so many phenomenal women who support me not only within my comfort zone, but also nudge – or sometimes pull me – beyond my safety net showing me how much more I am capable of accomplishing. They help me shine brightly when all I want to do is hide under the covers. They celebrate my successes and help me learn when things don’t go as planned. They point me in the right direction when I’m feeling lost. They laugh with me, dance with me, listen to and stand by me. They inspire me with their intentional lives, acts of kindness and bravery. Their presence in my life has made me a better person. Knowing they are there for me is both reassuring and empowering.
Sandi Knight 