Saying No To The Rushing

A poem for your day & an invitation to "Write Yourself Free" with me

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When a dear friend left me a message a few days ago sharing that the below poem, Saying No To The Rushing, shifted her day and brought her comfort, I decided that I needed to share it with you.

If you are tired of rushing, of trying to be “good” in the eyes of others, if you are just tired, period, I invite you to join me in September for my 6 week Write Yourself Free series.

This will be a time to say no to the rushing, no to the push to perform—a time to steep ourselves in poetry and presence, to allow our pens to run wildly, delightedly free.

No editing, no critiquing, no performance—no need to hide your messy humanness—just real connection, real truth telling.

Click HERE or on the below image for more information.

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Taos, New Mexico. Phone by Kevin S. Moul

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Write Yourself Free: An Online Writing Series for Women

Permission to be Ourselves

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This is a 6 week series for women, beginning on:

Tuesday, September 15th: 3:00-5:00PM (PST)

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Early bird registration is now open (until 8/7/26). No early bird deadline for paying subscribers.

This will be an intimate group, limited to 15 participants.

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Use coupon code: FREE at checkout for $25.00 off (until 8/7/26)

PAYING SUBSCRIBERS USE coupon code: substack subscriber (no deadline)

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Julia brings a beauty and an acceptance that is utterly heartwarming, tender, and kind of like the comfiest couch you can ever imagine.

—Ellow Phoenix Barbour

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Now, for the poem…

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Saying No To The Rushing

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There is time to look up at the golden maple,
to consider her limbs all tangled up
with light and life, how unafraid
she is to be naked—to let it all come,
to let it all go. There is time

to stand still on the front porch on a Monday afternoon
and water the flowers that have graced you
with orange blossoms each day
of this fading summer, time to say thank you—
for another afternoon, another Monday,
for blossoms and front porches and stillness
and time. Time.

Yes, there is time to say no to the rushing,
to the push to perform, no to the chase
to collect all the prettiest things. Yes to opening
the book of poetry, to lingering on a line until every
last window blows open inside you.

Might you look up at the sky full of stars and laugh
at how, just a moment ago, you tried to undo what had
already been done, laugh at how you worried yourself
sick over whys and what ifs, worried over, over—
what was that again?

Who would you be without the storm
in your mind, if you took the time
to taste the exact flavor of this fading moment—
the moment that took 13.8 billion years
to get here. Maybe
you would be like that golden maple,
all tangled up with light and life—
unafraid to be naked, unafraid
to let it all come
to let it all go.

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The above poem is one of 100 poems in my brand new book This Too: Words To Walk You Home. Click on the below image to get a signed copy(s).

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PS: There are few things I love more than being a guest poet in communities that are rooted in mindfulness.

If you facilitate such a community and would like to have me as your guest, please feel free to reach out.

My email address is: writeyourselffree@gmail.com If you’re receiving this in your inbox, you can simply hit reply. xo

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