Shirley Belk
Bio
Mother, Nana, Sister, Cousin, & Aunt who recently retired. RN (Nursing Instructor) who loves to write stories to heal herself and reflect on all the silver linings she has been blessed with :)
Stories (348)
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Who Hung the Stars?. Top Story - October 2025.
They say, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” That statement always stumped me, confused me, and made me question. Maybe because math wasn't my forte? So, I looked at it through the lens of language which translated to "amalgamation." The definitions and examples I found of that term turned out to be so sterile and business-like, even from a cultural standpoint, though. I wasn't satisfied.
By Shirley Belk4 months ago in Humans
Listening with the Heart
"Listening requires focused attention, genuinely open without judgement and prepared to acceptance their perspective and their pain. It takes energy and patience. Your presence, a listening heart and an understanding heart is an antidote for a troubled heart." Azah Yazmin
By Shirley Belk4 months ago in Journal
I'm Doing Okay
Hi! How are you doing, dear? Me? Oh, I'm doing okay. Me? Really what do you expect? My son died. He's never coming back. I'll never hear his laugh or see his smile again. Do you want me to do handstands or something else spectacular? No... that's not fair. These people are genuinely concerned and hurt for you. Stop being so mean-hearted...they just don't know what to say. You should just tell them the truth but do it in a loving way. Tell them that every second of every minute you are awake you will never be the same again. Tell them that the love you had for him will always be there and you are trying so hard to regain your strength, to love life even more...for him. But, as other (wise) friends have urged, to give myself the grace and time to heal. And accept what others are trying to give in their own way to make "it" better.
By Shirley Belk5 months ago in Poets
Who's Knocking?. Top Story - October 2025.
My grandmother once told me that she didn't much like cats because they were too demanding. But I don't think she knew the character of all cats. It's true that some are a bit needy, though. But not Whiskers. He was purely just a yellow mass of fuzzy politeness and sincerity. And this story is about him; how he changed my life since meeting him early one unassuming and very ordinary Sunday morning in October.
By Shirley Belk5 months ago in Fiction
Did you Notice?
Dear Moon, Just a moment I spend with you this autumn night. I'll admit that I have paid you little mind in all the years I've spent under your watchful eye. And that's been pretty disrespectful, to say the least. But I don't want you to assume that in any way or form I believe you worthy to be worshipped, only saying that you certainly deserve to be noticed.
By Shirley Belk5 months ago in Poets
