Tenderness…
The soft gaze and color of gentleness. The juiciness of vulnerability that is laced with opening up. The softening of the eyes to take in the edges, to take in more. To see instead of turn away just for one more gust of a moment. To quietly stay with instead of run (unless you need to really run).
The simplicity of being present with breath. Leaning in and pausing. Feeling the subtleness of a passing moment. An eye gaze caught between two people. The whiff of flowers nearby.
A sweet part of your soul that feels deeply, craves, yearns and wants — the parts that can go overlooked in the chaos and business of life. That can get buried in the to-dos and the rationalizing and functional. The land of the SOUL. The heart’s true words and alive desires.
What would this life be if you let yourself pass by without listening, feeling, seeing?… I can’t afford to, can you? I want to know myself deeply. I want to BE myself.
In the words of Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
I am loving Mary Oliver’s poem, which reminds me of being tender in the present moment.
Inner Listening with Tenderness
❤ Where in your life would you like to infuse tenderness?
❤ What if you were softened and brought tenderness to those around you?
❤ What does it feel like in your body to lean into tenderness?
❤ What is the desire of the tender part of your heart that WANTS — the part that aches for something no matter how illogical?
❤ What reminds you to be tender?
The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
— Mary Oliver
Your Support Means So Much!
If The Embody Podcast, my writing, or guided healing meditations have inspired you, helped, or spoken to you, it would mean the world to me if you would show your support through a small donation.
Each creation is lovingly made from my soul and takes anywhere from weeks to a few days to develop and produce. I gladly pay an editor who supports me in polishing and creating high quality content.
As little as $2 help nourish my podcast and other creations to continue to have life and cover costs.
You can also take a look at my offerings which can deepen your embodiment on your own journey. Proceeds from those offerings also help me in the creation of more resources and material.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am so appreciative.
