Quote of the day: “Human skin is porous; the world flows through you. Your senses are large pores that let the world in. By being attuned to the wisdom of your senses, you will never become an exile in your own life, an outsider lost in an external spiritual place that your will and intellect, have constructed.” ― John O’DonohueAnam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

Each leaf is unique just as each of us is unique.

Each of us brings something unique into the world through our actions and being. There is way of being that allows our unique voice to express itself in the world, to create, to sing, to be.

For many years I muted my unique voice because of my desire to fit in, to not stand out, to not make waves. I was also afraid of being judged and ostracized for being who I was. I let out little glimpses to those I loved but rigidly controlled how much I revealed to everyone else. This rigid controlling had very negative impacts on my health and well-being.

When I started writing this blog and selling photographs that I had made, I felt as if I was standing naked in the world. Over time, I have come to treasure the freedom and congruence between my inner and outer reality and my health has improved significantly.

Yesterday, I sent out an email to a long list of friends and acquaintances, asking for help making connections to people and places in Hawaii. Since I sent out that email, I’ve felt that same sense of vulnerability that I protected myself against for so much of my life.

I could go into my protective shell and ignore the feelings. But I’ve learned riding the edge of discomfort and fear is a juicy, creative place, where growth and change occur.

So instead of retreating, my job today is to become a body/soul whisperer—to bring myself back to feeling whole and safe despite the vulnerability I feel. Today I let the world flow through my skin and attune to the place of beauty.

Walking, noticing, accepting, seeing beauty, making photos, laughing, writing—these are the tools I use to whisper myself back.

It works! I feel safe showing up and living out loud, saying what I think, asking for help, risking rejection. The world flows through me and fills me with grace and joy.

Late Fall Flowers

How about you? Are you living out loud? Are you letting the world flow through you? Are you expressing your unique voice in the world?

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
― Martha Graham


Marilyn

Photographer sharing beauty, grace & joy in photographs and blog posts. I live in the Twin Cites in Minnesota, the land of lakes, trees, and wonderful nature.

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