Thoughts From My Heart

Janet Ocasio began to write poetry, essays, and short stories very early in her life. It quickly became an outlet for

her as she struggled to overcome a life-threatening illness which culminated in a Liver Transplant in 1998. Janet has known much adversity in her life. Her family migrated to NYC from Puerto Rico when she was eight years old and she had to quickly learn to navigate this new culture, learn the language, and overcome her shyness and insecurities. Writing became her outlet and her savior. On paper she was able to express herself when language failed her. And so she wrote, and wrote. She poured all her pain, her hopes, and dreams into the written word. This poetry collection tells her story and reveals her thoughts. Some of the poems are whimsical and some funny but many reach deep into her soul and give voice to her sense of gratitude because her greatest lesson in life has been that life is itself a gift.