Category: Quotes

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk, The Mighty, The Pencil Case on The Mighty

The Pencil Case: Are you Highly Sensitive, too?

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

My Story

Sometimes the world around me is a lot to process — noises are too loud, lights too bright and my thoughts often fall down a never-ending spiral. I care deeply for the people around me and wish I could do more. It’s like I’m an emotional sponge.

I’m no stranger to feeling overwhelmed and I catch myself retreating in order to feel better again. I regain my energy with creativity and love to reflect so I can better understand myself and others. My brain likes looking at the bigger picture but does so through subtleties. I see patterns and small details and my favorite questions are “why?” and “how?”

However, being highly sensitive has made me susceptible to scrutiny and criticism. I’m often “too much” or “too deep” for the liking of some people. I remember once being told, “You make things too difficult and complex and would benefit from being more simple.” That isn’t who I am though, and I shouldn’t be ashamed of how sensitive I am. It’s taken me some time to fully understand and accept my emotional nature and to perceive it as an ability instead of a burden.

While feeling deeply is no walk in the park, I am proud of how far I’ve come in my journey of self-love. But I know I still have so much more to learn. If you are a highly sensitive person like me, know that you are not alone. No matter what, you are not “too much” and I’m happy to walk this journey with you.

What are your experiences like as a highly sensitive person?

Can You Relate? Let’s Reflect!

To my highly sensitive people, we are in this together.
No matter what, you are not “too much” and I’m happy to walk this sensitivity journey with you. If you find yourself overwhelmed or overstimulated check out these reflective guided questions, they’ve helped me navigate my sensitivities:
  • How are you feeling?
  • Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated, or overstimulated? Where and when do you feel this way?
  • Are you overextending your energy?
  • When was the last time you took a break?
  • Do you need time alone?
  • What places help you feel safe?
  • What are your triggers and how can you manage them?
  • What is in your control?
  • What are your needs? How can you prioritize your needs better?
  • What are your limits? What are you okay/not okay with?
  • Do you need to write down your thoughts or talk them out?
  • Who can you ask for help?

Join this conversation here in The Pencil Case on The Mighty, or comment on this post!

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Dear Depression

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

With every breath in me and all of my energy, I push past the parts of myself that tell me I can’t.
Even on the mornings I ask “why?” I embody the character of resiliency.
“I am” despite the thoughts that say “I’m not.”
I define every day with what living means.
I draw it in cursive along the walls of my subconscious.
I deserve peace and I manifest it in every moment.
Although I need time to get my pain together, my strength always takes the lead.
What I have is the power those thoughts try to take from me.
But, even when I feel I’m at my lowest when the fear feels bigger than the triumph,
I get up.
I get up. Every. Single. Time.
Why? Because “I am.”

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Love, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

You Are A Complete Person

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

6 Truths About Worth:

-Your worth is defined by who you are, intrinsically. Nothing you “do” or “don’t do” can change your worth.
-Your worth does not fluctuate or change depending on who you are with or who you want to be with.
-You are worthy no matter what. There is nothing outside of you that can determine your worth.
-How someone treats you is reflective of them and not of you.
-Nothing and no one can take away your worth.
-Your worth will stay with you and will not leave. There is no need to prove your worth to anyone.

You are a whole person without anyone telling you or showing you. Being with someone does not validate your worth. You were worthy before them and you are still going to be worthy with them or after them.

You are complete.
You are enough.
You are necessary.
You are important.

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Love, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Reflection, Self-Care, Self-Talk

I love You.

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Dear Nina,
Even with the struggle and layers that come with you, I love you.
Even with sickness and daily challenges, I love you.
Every morning, I love you.
When you lay your head to rest, I love you.
When you don’t have energy, I love you.
When you don’t feel accomplished, I love you.
When you doubt your worth, I love you.
When you can’t look at yourself in the mirror, I love you.
In your frustration, I love you.
When you think no one cares, I love you.
When you think no one will fully accept you, I love you.
When your mind is being mean and destructive, I love you.
When you think you are unworthy of love, I still love you.
Even when the thought of love is hard for you, I will always love you.
No matter what is stopping you from loving you, I AM the part of you that will always love you.

-SparklyWarTanks

Posted in Creative Writing, Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Love, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

A Letter of Power: I Choose Myself

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Dear Nina,

You are valued and worthy.

There is no need to continue to adapt and adjust to other people’s needs while not receiving any love and support back.
There is no need to beg others to treat you with respect and continuously try to understand them while they are intentionally misunderstanding you.
There is no need to blame yourself every time something goes wrong.
There is no need to wait on someone else to see how much of a good person you are.
You do not need to wait for someone to make space for you when you continuously make space for them.
You do not need to be validated or to prove your worth.
When someone shows you over and over that they don’t care, believe them.
You value transparency, honesty, and support. Don’t accept anything less than what you deserve.
Keep your circle small with people who love you and care for you as much as you love and care for them.
Don’t give anyone excuses for their behavior not meeting the bare minimum standards.
Your worth is not dependent on how they treat you or their ability to change. They will not change. Choose you. You deserve to choose you every time.

With Love and Power,
SparklyWarTanks

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Love, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Radical Self-Acceptance

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

It’s difficult to face yourself, every part of yourself. To sit, feel your pain, and acknowledge when you need help is nothing short of a heroic act.

Advocate for yourself when no one else is advocating for you. Call yourself out when you know you need to do better. Move and do what’s best for you. Trust in yourself. Gain knowledge. Grow in empathy.

Realize that you don’t need to carry those burdens everywhere you go. Relieve yourself of the expectations that cause you pain and fuel habits of self-sabotage. Create reasonable expectations instead. Know yourself. Say no. Be gentle with your self-talk.

Speak the words “I can” and walk in your affirmations and manifestations. Follow through with what you say you will.

Be intentional with self-love and take care of yourself.

Realize how important you are and take action. Move in grace and gentleness with every step.

The more you accept yourself in your intrinsic beauty and worth, the closer you are to purpose and change.

First believe, each step will then be accompanied with power.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Dear Black Women

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

While in the midst of creating SparklyWarTanks, the first target audience that popped into my mind was to reach minds and open perspectives in my neighborhood; the black neighborhood in Brooklyn I call home. I wanted to talk about mental health and women empowerment to those Black and Latinx women I saw every day.

I build SparklyWarTanks with the goal to uplift and empower women in my community but, what made my goal for SparklyWarTanks distinct and concrete, reflecting me and my growth, is remembering and honoring those black women educators/advisors/counselors/friends who helped shape my perspective. It was the love, care, and dedication of these women that I saw in myself, the ability to be something great when I thought I was nothing.

So to say that I am not a combination of great minds is false.

Black women, you are sacred and valued. Your voice is strong and transcends logical limitations. Speak your truth. Your life is important. You continue to lead us in revolution and I thank you.

I see you. I hear you. I love you.

Rest in power Breonna Taylor.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Redefining the New “Normal” by Taking a Step Back

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

In a rapidly changing world where “normal” is being redefined and challenged, it feels different and strange to imagine what we once knew as everyday life shifting. It’s mind-boggling to think we are adjusting and adapting. But, what are we adapting and adjusting to? Big buzzwords, for those of us who have been quarantined or stuck at home and even those essential workers going out risking their health every day, are fear, anxiety, productivity, motivation, worth, and purpose.

  • What does it mean to be productive?
  • What does it mean to feel motivated?
  • What does it mean to feel worth and purpose?
  • How are we learning to self-care and make decisions about how we view ourselves and what we want in life?
  • What do fear and anxiety mean for us?
  • What is mental, emotional, and physical health?
  • How will socializing change or shift?
  • How do we define success or accomplishments?

As we ponder and navigate who we are during this exhausting period in history, I caution us to be gentle with ourselves and take a step back. Give ourselves time to understand that it’s okay to take a minute or more to slow down. Even with our everyday responsibilities, reflection and self-care are necessary. We are not living the same way we were last year or even a few months ago. We do not have to pile on expectations and lists of things to do. We also can give ourselves permission to prioritize our mental and physical health; make goals, and shorten our lists to things that mean something to us.

Note: Don’t be afraid to put yourself first.

Take a moment to jot down your needs and personal goals. How will you self-care today? Have you been checking in with your feelings and mental state?

It’s okay to take a step back.

You define what is best for you.

Posted in Keep Moving: Motivation and Inspiration, Love, Mental Health, Potential and Worth, Power, Quotes, Self-Care, Self-Talk

Are You Holding On To Something? Read This

Posted on by SparklyWarTanks

Often times we stay stuck in the reality of our past. We dwell and ruminate on the what-ifs and maybes. We stand in what we can’t walk away from. But, that doesn’t have to be where we are forever. We can give ourselves permission to move forward. We can dissect and navigate our mistakes, regrets, and pain in order to clear the path of progress for ourselves. The more we become comfortable with our discomfort and adjust our eyes in the darkest parts of ourselves, we learn to forgive what we were and make room for who we can become.

Make room for yourself to walk forward. Clear a path so that you can forgive and lift the weight that’s been keeping you standing instead of moving forward. Manifest something different. Manifest clarity and grace. Manifest wellness and peace. You deserve to feel free. This is your time for freedom.