u/PeanutImpressive9534

Two months ago, I became a published author. Today, I'm grateful to share that my collection has reached another milestone. 🌸

When I first published ALL That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart, I wasn't just releasing a collection of poems—I was releasing pieces of my own becoming.

Every poem grew from seasons of healing, hope, loss, faith, love, and learning who I was beneath everything life had asked me to carry.

Today, I'm excited to share that my collection is now available in both paperback and Kindle on Amazon, and in paperback and eBook through Barnes & Noble, giving readers another way to experience the journey.

To celebrate this milestone, the Kindle edition on Amazon is currently on sale for just $2.99, or free with Kindle Unlimited for a limited time.

If you've ever found yourself rebuilding after difficult seasons or searching for words that remind you you're not alone, I hope these poems find you when you need them most.

From broken places, beauty still rises.

I'd love to hear from fellow writers and readers: What inspired you to write your first book or poem—or what book has stayed with you long after you finished reading it?

📖 Amazon (Paperback & Kindle): https://a.co/d/052Mu9eM

📚 Barnes & Noble (Paperback & eBook): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-that-is-me-shonta-moore/1151006240?ean=9798234082039

​

Today I'd like to share a poem from my upcoming collection, Love's Complexity.

This poem was inspired by quiet moments in nature that reminded me how often God speaks—not always through the loudest winds, but through the gentle whispers that call us to pause, reflect, and trust the path before us.

Sometimes the leaves teach us that letting go is not the end of our story, but part of becoming who we were always meant to be.

I hope Whispering Leaves meets you wherever you are today.

— Shonta

Whispering Leaves

There is something sacred

about leaves in motion—

the way they tremble softly

without breaking.

Sometimes survival

Looks like bending.

Sometimes healing

sounds like silence

between the storms.

The leaves do not resist

the changing seasons.

They release

when it is time.

And perhaps

That is the lesson

I was always meant to learn:

that growth requires surrender,

that beauty exists

even in letting go,

and that a woman

can remain soft

while becoming unshakably strong.

One of the poems from my upcoming poetry collection, Love's Complexity.

This piece is a reflection on the quiet strength many women carry—the tears that are often unseen, the resilience born through hardship, and the hope that remains even after life's deepest wounds. I hope it resonates with anyone who has ever had to find strength in the midst of sorrow.

Thank you for reading.

A woman’s tears

are not weaknesses—

They are the language

of everything she learned to carry

in silence.

They fall

not because she is broken,

But because she has been

too strong

for too long.

I have wept

for the girl I once was—

who loved too deeply,

who stayed too long,

who believed that healing

could be found

in another’s hands.

I have wept

for the woman I became—

piecing herself together

in quiet prayers,

learning that God restores

What life tried to take.

And I have wept

for my daughter—

standing at the doorway

of her own becoming,

with a heart so open

It mirrors mine

before I knew better.

Oh, how I want to shield her

from the ache of “almost,”

from the illusion of love

that lives in words

but not in the presence.

But I have learned—

a woman’s journey

cannot be borrowed

or bypassed.

So I pray instead.

That her tears

never come from forgetting her worth.

That her heart

never trades truth

for temporary attention.

That she knows the difference

between a man who speaks of God

and a man who walks with Him.

Because I have learned

through every tear I’ve cried—

Love should not feel

like losing yourself.

And a woman’s tears…

when surrendered to God,

do not fall in vain.

They water the ground

where she rises again—

stronger, wiser,

and unwilling

to return

to anything

that once broke her.

​

One of the poems from my upcoming poetry collection, Love's Complexity.

This piece is a reflection on the quiet strength many women carry—the tears that are often unseen, the resilience born through hardship, and the hope that remains even after life's deepest wounds. I hope it resonates with anyone who has ever had to find strength in the midst of sorrow.

Thank you for reading.

A woman’s tears

are not weaknesses—

They are the language

of everything she learned to carry

in silence.

They fall

not because she is broken,

But because she has been

too strong

for too long.

I have wept

for the girl I once was—

who loved too deeply,

who stayed too long,

who believed that healing

could be found

in another’s hands.

I have wept

for the woman I became—

piecing herself together

in quiet prayers,

learning that God restores

What life tried to take.

And I have wept

for my daughter—

standing at the doorway

of her own becoming,

with a heart so open

It mirrors mine

before I knew better.

Oh, how I want to shield her

from the ache of “almost,”

from the illusion of love

that lives in words

but not in the presence.

But I have learned—

a woman’s journey

cannot be borrowed

or bypassed.

So I pray instead.

That her tears

never come from forgetting her worth.

That her heart

never trades truth

for temporary attention.

That she knows the difference

between a man who speaks of God

and a man who walks with Him.

Because I have learned

through every tear I’ve cried—

Love should not feel

like losing yourself.

And a woman’s tears…

when surrendered to God,

do not fall in vain.

They water the ground

where she rises again—

stronger, wiser,

and unwilling

to return

to anything

that once broke her.

To my fellow Phoenixes... 🧡❤️

There was a time when I questioned whether I belonged in higher education. Like so many adult learners, I carried self-doubt, fear, setbacks, and the quiet worry that I might have waited too long to pursue my dreams.

What I've learned is this:

Those moments are part of the journey, not part of its design.

Every assignment, every late night, every challenge, and every small victory have shaped me into someone stronger than I imagined.

Along the way, I've earned a place on both the President's List and the Dean's List, but the greatest accomplishment hasn't been an academic honor.

It's the person I'm becoming.

The University of Phoenix has given me far more than an education. It has connected me with instructors who genuinely invest in their students, classmates who have encouraged me, and opportunities to serve beyond the classroom.

Through this journey, I've grown as a leader, contributed to a virtual healthcare community, mentored and encouraged others, published my first book, and now even share my story through the Student Spotlight initiative. None of those opportunities were part of my original plan—they were the result of simply choosing not to give up.

So if you're wondering whether you can finish...

You can.

If you're doubting yourself...

Keep going.

Your story is still being written, and one difficult chapter doesn't determine how it ends.

To every lifelong learner: keep showing up. Keep believing in yourself. One day, you'll look back and realize that while you were working toward a degree, you were also becoming the person you were meant to be.

Thank you, University of Phoenix, for believing in students like me and for creating a community where growth extends far beyond the classroom.

To everyone still on the journey... don't give up. Your future self is already cheering you on. ❤️🎓🌱

​

One of the poems from my upcoming collection, Love's Complexity. This piece is dedicated to the friendships that quietly shape us into who we're becoming. I hope it resonates with anyone who has been blessed with the gift of true friendship.

I have a feeling this one will resonate deeply with other poets because almost everyone has experienced the profound impact of someone who stayed. 💜🪷

Friendships

Some people enter our lives like passing seasons,

beautiful, necessary,

Yet destined to move on.

Others arrive so gently,

We hardly notice

they are becoming

part of our soul.

They witness the tears we never speak of,

the dreams we are almost too afraid to say aloud,

and somehow,

without asking,

they remind us

of the light we could not always see within ourselves.

They celebrate our victories

as though they were their own,

and when our hearts grow weary,

They quietly lend us their hope

until we can carry it again.

True friendship is not measured by time alone,

but by presence.

By the ones who stay.

The ones who listen.

The ones who tell us the truth with love,

and remind us

that we are worthy

even when we have forgotten.

To every soul who has walked beside me,

Thank you.

You have been

God's gentle reminder

that family

is not always found by birth,

but often

by the hearts

we choose

to keep.

Today I had one of those moments where I had to pause.

Seeing ALL That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart available through both Barnes & Noble and Amazon is more than a publishing milestone for me. It is a reminder that healing, perseverance, and purpose can become something you share with the world.

This journey has been filled with revisions, learning, moments of doubt, and moments of celebration. Looking back, every step has been worth it.

My hope has never been simply to publish a book. It has always been to reach the hearts that need these words, whenever they find them.

If this collection finds even one person who feels seen, encouraged, or reminded that healing is possible, then every page has fulfilled its purpose.

This is only the beginning.

🪷🔥

From broken places, beauty still rises.

When I first enrolled at the University of Phoenix, my goal was simple: to earn my degree and build a future in healthcare leadership.

What I didn't expect was how much I would grow beyond the coursework.

As a BSHA graduate and now a Master of Health Administration student, I've learned that meaningful engagement transforms the educational experience. Some of my greatest lessons have come through conversations with classmates, thoughtful feedback from instructors, and participating in the broader University of Phoenix community.

Over the years, I've been fortunate to learn from instructors who challenged me to think critically, communicate more effectively, and view leadership through new perspectives. Their encouragement extended far beyond grading assignments—they invested in helping me grow academically, professionally, and personally.

Outside the classroom, I've also had the privilege of serving as an intern leader within our virtual healthcare community. Creating content, welcoming new members, celebrating student achievements, and encouraging future healthcare professionals has reminded me that leadership isn't about holding a title—it's about serving others and helping them discover the confidence to lead.

Along the way, I've been honored to earn recognition on both the President's List and the Dean's List, publish my first poetry collection, and connect with an incredible community of students, faculty, mentors, and alums who continue to inspire me.

One lesson has become abundantly clear to me:

A university provides knowledge, but engagement transforms the experience.

If you're beginning your own journey, don't just complete the assignments. Ask questions. Build relationships. Encourage your classmates. Participate in your community. Those experiences may become just as valuable as the degree itself.

Looking back, I realize my greatest achievement isn't simply earning honors or advancing to graduate school. It's the person I've become throughout the journey.

Every milestone has reinforced one simple truth: leadership begins long before the title. It begins with a willingness to learn, the courage to serve, and the commitment to help others believe in what's possible for themselves.

S. Moore

Some reflections don't come from mirrors.

They come unexpectedly—through quiet moments, through storms we never asked for, through the places where life asks us to see ourselves truly.

Today, I'm reflecting on these lines from Reflections:

"Through puddles of raindrops, I see my face. Reality begins to bite. Sharp as a bullet. It stings..."

Sometimes the hardest truths are the ones that begin our healing.

— All That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart

From broken places, beauty still rises. 🪷

📖 Available on Amazon https://a.co/d/052Mu9eM

✨ Coming soon to Barnes & Noble

There comes a moment when you realize your story was never meant to remain hidden.

Not because every chapter was easy... But because every chapter carried a purpose.

Today, I'm reflecting on a few lines from the poem that gave my collection its name:

"The voice that will no longer be silenced..."

"I am the light that found me, the love that held me, the faith that carried me."

There was a time when fear whispered louder than hope.

Today, I choose a different voice.

A voice rooted in grace. A voice strengthened by faith. A voice that no longer apologizes for surviving, healing, or becoming.

If my journey has taught me anything, it is this:

We are not defined by the moments that tried to silence us.

We are defined by the courage to rise, to speak, and to walk forward in the light that found us.

May you never be afraid to embrace the voice God has placed within you.

🪷 From All That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart

📖 Available now on Amazon

✨ Coming soon to Barnes & Noble

Every poem is a reflection. Every reflection is a step in becoming.

From my poetry collection, ALL That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart

I wanted to share one of the quieter pieces from my collection.

While many of the poems explore love, loss, healing, and becoming, One Life reflects on perspective, resilience, and the paths we are each given to walk.

I'd love to hear what resonates with you. Constructive feedback is always appreciated.

Out of the night

that covers him—

black as the street

stretching far ahead...

He thanks

whatever it must be,

for he is filled

with mystery.

Try to see

from his point of view—

the things in life

He must endure,

the paths he walks,

the choices

He must choose.

And so,

without a voice to decide,

He was placed

into this world

He now calls home.

For in his world,

There is meant to be

love

and unity...

yet none

to share in what he holds.

No one

to refuse his nectar'd wine—

because he alone

must drink

life's bitterness.

For life

is not always destined

to go his way...

or ours.

In this one life—

We are all given

a path to walk,

But it is in how we carry it

that defines

who we become.

https://a.co/d/052Mu9eM

Today I found myself returning to a poem from my collection, All That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart.

"The nights you cried in silence,

the prayers whispered through uncertainty,

the moments you chose to rise.

I pray you now walk in a softness."

I wrote these lines thinking about how easy it is to confuse survival with healing.

For a long time, I believed strength meant enduring whatever life placed before me. Over time, I realized there comes a season when surviving is no longer the goal.

The goal becomes learning to breathe deeply again. To rest. To trust. To laugh without apology. To allow yourself moments of peace without wondering when they'll disappear.

To me, walking in softness isn't weakness. It's a quiet strength that grows after you've weathered life's storms.

I'm curious...

What does "walking in softness" mean to you?

Today I found myself returning to a poem from my collection, All That Is Me: Echoes of a Becoming Heart.

"The nights you cried in silence,

the prayers whispered through uncertainty,

the moments you chose to rise.

I pray you now walk in a softness."

I wrote these lines thinking about how easy it is to confuse survival with healing.

For a long time, I believed strength meant enduring whatever life placed before me. Over time, I realized there comes a season when surviving is no longer the goal.

The goal becomes learning to breathe deeply again. To rest. To trust. To laugh without apology. To allow yourself moments of peace without wondering when they'll disappear.

To me, walking in softness isn't weakness. It's a quiet strength that grows after you've weathered life's storms.

I'm curious...

What does "walking in softness" mean to you?

In your eyes,

I see love, passion, courage- and I see your pain.

I see your heart,

I feel your feelings,

As if they echo quietly within my own.

In your eyes,

I see endless possibilities-

Dreams waiting patiently to be realized.

In your eyes,

I see your thoughts- reaching for acceptance,

Wanting nothing but the best…

To be among the crowd,

Yet somehow forgetting

You were never meant to blend in.

In your eyes,

I travel to your past.

I've seen your struggles-

The silent battles,

The moments no one else could see.

And still, you rise.

To become someone I’m proud of,

To stand beside you,

To call you mine-

As I look into your eyes,

I no longer see you

I see us-

Reflected in something deeper,

Something unspoken, something real.

And in that reflection, I find a love that feels both familiar and forever.