Poets are magicians. I have big dreams of weaving more poetic elements into my writing without making it hokey. It’s a challenge not to crowd the language and turn people off. It’s funny sometimes I’ll think of my most resonant lines while I’m doing something completely away from the keyboard, like brushing my teeth or going on a run. That’s why I think it’s so important to disconnect from other people’s voices for big parts of the day.
I totally get this, Julie. My "best" lines come to me when I am moving - hardly EVER when my ass is in the chair. Lately, it's even been happening in between dreams. I've started leaving a journal next to my bed to jot down the words. Over my coffee, I look at them (sometimes illegible) - it's wild. Disconnecting to re-connect to ourselves. I'm learning this is crucial.
I needed all the gentle, kind reminders in this one, Allison! Thank you!
I often feel more like a poet than a writer...but over the past few months have been trying to be more of a writer than a poet. Of course, a person can be both, and I suppose a poet is a writer in any case. But my internal flow - the writing that seems to come through rather than from me - leans far more poetic than my recent writing on substack. I think it has to do with the proportion of mind versus heart. Both are in there, but poetry (for me) is more heart.
As a regular reader of your work here on Substack, I will say, to me, your heart always shines through.
I love that you recognize these distinctions in yourself as a writer. The internal flow you reference, how/when writing comes through you rather than from you, I feel a similar shift in me at times. Almost like I can't help but let it dump out.
I'm just grateful you share your words with us! Thanks, Dana. xoxoxo
Oh I so relate to this journey of trying to move out of the head and live inside the body. This has been my daily practice too for a long time. Slowly slowly my body is beginning to remember herself and come alive with sensation and guidance 😊
It’s a daily practice that I really have to stay committed to - otherwise my mental health truly suffers. Auto-pilot on all the doing but not the straight forward being. It’s culture’s imprint on us, I guess.
Loved this one, Allison. I have alarms through you the day to do a breathing pattern: inhale 5, hold 20, exhale 10 that I recently learned about. I’ve also been doing EFT here and there. It really only takes 5 minutes (or even just 5 breaths) to drop back in. And sobriety got me here, too. That dissociation between my mind and body only became clear through quitting all the things. 🙃
I often wonder when it will become automatic for me - when will I not need to set alarms to make sure I remember to drop into my body? I know the difference it makes and how much better I feel on the days I do it. I guess it’s just the imprint from years of ignoring my insides and letting my mind lead all the hours.
Thanks for reading and letting me know your experience. Just last night I was encouraging my 10 year old daughter (who is voicing some concerns over, what she is calling, “anger issues”) to practice boxed breathing when she feels herself boiling up. I wish I had these tools when I was a young girl full of scary emotions.
Thanks and I need to be reminded that I'm not a to-do-list; not here for productivity only, a good and bad day measured by output. Too true, too long. Not gone yet. I lke your rooted rest haiku.
Thanks too for this intro to Grant Snider's Haikomics. I can at least picture the pictures ;-) , why do so many of us say we can't draw? I'm one of them. Maybe I'll try. . .
Picturing the pictures means you have the vision - you are halfway there! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Joanne. The measuring of output you mention - ugh. So hard for me to consistently shake that mindset. Hence, why I am setting alarms on my phone to scream at me to "take 5"
Wonderful article Allison!
One of my affirmations is, "I am more than the value I create."
My experience in athletics and business led me to believe the opposite which had consequences I wouldn't have imagined.
Such a powerful affirmation. Thank you for sharing, Jamal. I feel that. And I need that.
For me - it’s so easy to get wrapped up in what I achieve (or don’t achieve).
Poets are magicians. I have big dreams of weaving more poetic elements into my writing without making it hokey. It’s a challenge not to crowd the language and turn people off. It’s funny sometimes I’ll think of my most resonant lines while I’m doing something completely away from the keyboard, like brushing my teeth or going on a run. That’s why I think it’s so important to disconnect from other people’s voices for big parts of the day.
I totally get this, Julie. My "best" lines come to me when I am moving - hardly EVER when my ass is in the chair. Lately, it's even been happening in between dreams. I've started leaving a journal next to my bed to jot down the words. Over my coffee, I look at them (sometimes illegible) - it's wild. Disconnecting to re-connect to ourselves. I'm learning this is crucial.
I needed all the gentle, kind reminders in this one, Allison! Thank you!
I often feel more like a poet than a writer...but over the past few months have been trying to be more of a writer than a poet. Of course, a person can be both, and I suppose a poet is a writer in any case. But my internal flow - the writing that seems to come through rather than from me - leans far more poetic than my recent writing on substack. I think it has to do with the proportion of mind versus heart. Both are in there, but poetry (for me) is more heart.
As a regular reader of your work here on Substack, I will say, to me, your heart always shines through.
I love that you recognize these distinctions in yourself as a writer. The internal flow you reference, how/when writing comes through you rather than from you, I feel a similar shift in me at times. Almost like I can't help but let it dump out.
I'm just grateful you share your words with us! Thanks, Dana. xoxoxo
Aww...thank you, Allison. Grateful for you! ❤️
Oh I so relate to this journey of trying to move out of the head and live inside the body. This has been my daily practice too for a long time. Slowly slowly my body is beginning to remember herself and come alive with sensation and guidance 😊
It’s a daily practice that I really have to stay committed to - otherwise my mental health truly suffers. Auto-pilot on all the doing but not the straight forward being. It’s culture’s imprint on us, I guess.
Thanks for letting me know it resonates, Vicki 🙏🏼
Loved this one, Allison. I have alarms through you the day to do a breathing pattern: inhale 5, hold 20, exhale 10 that I recently learned about. I’ve also been doing EFT here and there. It really only takes 5 minutes (or even just 5 breaths) to drop back in. And sobriety got me here, too. That dissociation between my mind and body only became clear through quitting all the things. 🙃
I often wonder when it will become automatic for me - when will I not need to set alarms to make sure I remember to drop into my body? I know the difference it makes and how much better I feel on the days I do it. I guess it’s just the imprint from years of ignoring my insides and letting my mind lead all the hours.
Thanks for reading and letting me know your experience. Just last night I was encouraging my 10 year old daughter (who is voicing some concerns over, what she is calling, “anger issues”) to practice boxed breathing when she feels herself boiling up. I wish I had these tools when I was a young girl full of scary emotions.
Sobriety taught me all of this. 🙏🏼
That’s so beautiful you can now teach her. 🩵 and one day it will become automatic for us too. ✨
Thanks and I need to be reminded that I'm not a to-do-list; not here for productivity only, a good and bad day measured by output. Too true, too long. Not gone yet. I lke your rooted rest haiku.
Thanks too for this intro to Grant Snider's Haikomics. I can at least picture the pictures ;-) , why do so many of us say we can't draw? I'm one of them. Maybe I'll try. . .
Picturing the pictures means you have the vision - you are halfway there! Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts, Joanne. The measuring of output you mention - ugh. So hard for me to consistently shake that mindset. Hence, why I am setting alarms on my phone to scream at me to "take 5"
Loved this 💓🙏🏼
Thanks Caroline! 🙏🏼