In a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast, Brenda Sanders, a 69-year-old poet from New York, offers a gentle invitation to pause, reflect, and find peace. Her debut poetry collection, The Quiet Side of Me, published in February 2025, is more than a book, it’s a testament to a life shaped by faith, resilience, and an unwavering love for the beauty in everyday moments. In a recent interview, Brenda shared the story behind her poetry, offering a narrative that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. This story resonates whether you’re in New York or a small town in Michigan.
A Foundation Built on Faith and Family
Brenda’s journey begins in the Bronx, where she was born in the 1950s. Raised in a stable, nuclear household, she was surrounded by the love and discipline of her parents. Her father was a U.S. Navy mechanic and later a New York City police officer, and her mother was a beautician who worked for the state of New York for 26 years. “They instilled in us the importance of being productive members of society,” Brenda recalls, her voice warm with gratitude. “That meant getting a good education, finding a job, and taking care of yourself.”
Her childhood was full of movement, from the bustling streets of the Bronx to the quieter suburbs of East Meadow’s Mitchell Manor, and later to West Babylon, New York. She attended PS 130 in the Bronx, then elementary school in East Meadow, and graduated from West Babylon Junior and Senior High School in 1974. Her academic path led her to SUNY College at Old Westbury, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. In 1982, she began working toward a master’s at the New York Institute of Technology but set it aside to focus on her career. “I put it on the back burner,” she says with a chuckle, her pragmatism shining through.
Faith was the cornerstone of Brenda’s upbringing. From the age of five, she felt a profound connection to God, a bond nurtured by her mother’s lessons in Sunday school. “She taught us to lean on God through tough times, to pray our way through,” Brenda shares. This spiritual foundation became the lens through which she viewed the world, shaping her poetry and her approach to life’s challenges. “My poetry reflects my surroundings, my trials, and my relationship with God,” she explains. It’s a thread that runs through every verse, grounding her work in a quiet, unshakable strength.
A Life of Service and Purpose
For nearly five decades, Brenda has dedicated herself to serving others. In 1975, a year after graduating high school, she began working for the state of New York as a mental hygiene therapy aide. Over the years, she rose to habilitation specialist, then program manager, and now serves as a program coordinator overseeing a day habilitation center for individuals with developmental disabilities. “It’s been almost 50 years in the same field,” she says, her pride evident. Her work is more than a job, it’s a calling, rooted in her desire to uplift those in need.
Brenda’s commitment to service extends beyond her career. She’s been a notary public for the state of New York since 1978 and a devoted member of Living Hope Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in East Massapequa for 35 years. At the church, she’s served as financial secretary, treasurer, and head of the praise dance ministry, roles that reflect her deep sense of community. “I’m the kind of person who reaches out,” she says. “If I see someone in distress, I ask what’s wrong. I’m there to listen.”
In the 1980s, Brenda’s ambition led her to take on a second job at Piedmont Airlines (later absorbed by US Air), working nights at LaGuardia Airport’s ticket counter. “I always wanted to work at the airlines,” she recalls. “When I saw the ad in the paper, I applied, and they hired me. I was happy.” For two years, she worked seven days a week, balancing her day job from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with evening shifts that often stretched past midnight. “I had no children back then,” she laughs. “I was content doing something I loved.”
The Birth of The Quiet Side of Me
Brenda’s poetry began in seventh grade, sparked by the world around her: nature’s beauty, life’s joys, and its inevitable struggles. “I’ve always loved nature,” she says, her voice softening. “It’s reflected in my writing.” Her debut collection, The Quiet Side of Me, is organized into three sections, Nature, Life, and God, each capturing a facet of her experience. Written in the 1980s, the poems were born from moments of divine inspiration. “I could be in the car, in the shower, or cooking, and thoughts would come,” she explains. “I’d grab a napkin or a piece of paper and write them down.”
The book’s publication was delayed for decades due to financial constraints, but Brenda’s faith kept her hopeful. “I trusted God would make a way,” she says. That faith was rewarded when The Quiet Side of Me finally reached readers in February 2025. The cover, a serene image of a person by a boat on water, framed by a glowing sunset, embodies the book’s essence. “It’s about finding peace within,” Brenda says. “We need to look at life as beautiful, to keep still so God can speak to us.”
Brenda’s poetry is as spontaneous as it is profound. She doesn’t follow a rigid writing routine. “It just comes to me,” she says. “I could be at a wedding or playing with my grandchildren, and a thought hits. I write it down, date it, and time it.” This organic process allows her to capture raw, authentic emotions, from the tranquility of nature to the weight of life’s trials. Her goal is to offer readers a moment of respite, a chance to reflect and find hope. “I hope they take away tranquility,” she says. “I want them to stop, take a breath, and say, ‘This isn’t as bad as I thought. I can make it.’”
Overcoming Challenges with Faith
Like anyone, Brenda has faced creative and personal challenges. “We’ve all been through a lot,” she acknowledges. Her ability to navigate life’s hardships stems from the foundation laid in childhood. “My mother taught us to trust God in everything, the good, the bad, the ugly,” she says. This belief has been her anchor, enabling her to transform pain into poetry. “Sometimes we can’t verbally express what we’re going through,” she explains. “Writing lets me reflect on what I’ve seen, what I’ve witnessed, not just what I’ve been through.”
A Vision for the Future
Brenda’s creative journey is far from over. She’s already completed a second poetry collection, Awakened in the Morning, which explores similar themes of nature, life, and God, with an added focus on poverty. She’s also working on seven short stories, though funding remains a hurdle. “I trust God will bring those funds in my direction,” she says with quiet confidence. Her optimism is infectious, a reminder that faith and perseverance can move mountains.
Beyond her writing, Brenda remains a pillar in her community. Her roles at Living Hope Fellowship reflect her commitment to service, and her poetry carries that same spirit of outreach. “I want people to see a light in me,” she says, “to find hope through my words.” For Brenda, poetry is a ministry, a way to help others heal and find peace.
About The Author
Brenda Cecelia Sanders, a committed New Yorker, poet, and public servant, has spent over 40 years in social services, embodying compassion and resilience. As a notary public in New York, she channels her faith and discipline into her debut poetry collection, The Quiet Side of Me, which explores nature, life, and spirituality. Through her writing, Brenda inspires and uplifts, reflecting her own journey to show that strength and beauty shine in every phase of life.
