Comments on: The You That Takes Your Breath Away

By: whollyjeanne

whollyjeanne — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:01:14 +0000

you know, i’ve been honored to study death and dying and be with many people as they crossed that threshold, and one thing i often tell their loved ones: the dying person always blossoms or rallies before she dies. i’ve noticed that i kinda apply that to my life. when i have a creative project, i give myself a deadline . . . then i procrastinate. i always hated myself for doing this, but recently i’ve realized that maybe i’m treating myself as a hothouse flower – forcing myself to bloom. as the deadline approaches, i am forced to push through any negativities or resistance or doubt and bloom. and while it’s nice that i realize what i’m doing, the important benefit of that realization is how much energy it takes and how much sleep i lose and how much of the process i don’t get to enjoy because of that seemingly-needed procrastination a.k.a. push. i’m working on changing my routine to allow for “justbecause” (my word of the year) projects. to work on things because they are important to me, because they won’t leave me alone until i do work on them. am changing my routine to allow time to savor the juices of working on those babies – enjoying all the things i miss when i’m in overdrive to meet a deadline. does that make sense? it seemed to when i read your post, but as i write amid the interruptions of the dog and the dryer dinging and the text message and such, it seems less clear. oh well.

ps: wait, you’re on fb? how to find you coz i can never get too much of julie daley;)

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:59:26 +0000

Ooooh your words brought tears to my eyes. The way you articulate or unfortunately too often tendency to “hide our light under a bushel” as my mom says, is beautiful. How perceptive to notice that we are the only species who has a choice not to blossom. And sometimes we don’t. But sometimes, when we make that choice, like you did in this post and in your writing, the blossoming takes our breath away. You, m’dear, take my breath away. And thanks for reminding me that sometimes I do too.

By: Charlotte Rains Dixon

Charlotte Rains Dixon — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:54:57 +0000

Just as flowers don’t prevent themselves from blooming, birds don’t stop themselves from singing. They just sing. They don’t worry what the other birds think, as far as I can tell, or try to sing in a smaller voice. They just sing.

Flowers blooming, birds singing…your words are so inspiring to me this morning!

By: Walter

Walter — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:44:06 +0000

All of us are capable of greatness. Our only limitation is our false beliefs. We need to emancipate from this in order to see our powers.

By: Kristen @ Motherese

Kristen @ Motherese — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:26:17 +0000

This is just lovely, Julie. Thank you for these words, for your courage in saying them, for the motivation to bloom.

By: becca

becca — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:02:49 +0000

For all the times I’ve been told, “just be yourself”, “be true to yourself” or “love you for yourself”, nothing has really resonated with me, until your words you’ve written here. I love this. I want to tape this to my wall or even better, staple it to my head!

Thank you for this inspiring post!

By: Square-Peg Karen

Square-Peg Karen — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:35:46 +0000

Beautiful!! I kept thinking of the Anais Nin quote I fell in love with years ago: “There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

And it’s not just the risk, but the energy it takes to remain – like you talked about. After a time – after we’ve learned how to protect ourselves — So. Not. Worth. It.

Love how you honor the self-protection thing – not saying anything with shameful connotations, just opening into the flower you are. Inspirational!

By: Alana

Alana — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:34:01 +0000

The pull to be the me that takes my breath away is getting stronger. Thank you for giving voice to so much of what I’m feeling. Breathing deeply, relaxing into opening…Thank you.

By: Ronna Detrick

Ronna Detrick — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:15:42 +0000

So, so much in here Julie. It’s not one flower, it’s an entire bouquet, an entire garden, an entire field of wildflowers – untamed, blooming, gorgeous – indeed, breathtaking.

I’m so grateful for your voice – this blend of your personal exposure and vulnerability combined with a call to my strength and power. That’s the messiness, isn’t it? Exposure and strength. Vulnerability and power. Not gendered categories, but all bound up within us – all wanting/needing to burst forth…to bloom.

You are like water to my roots…the ones way down deep that I cannot see but which I know are foundational to all that’s now seen – and yet to blossom; that which is and will continue to be visible, experienced, and enjoyed. Thank you. I am nourished, fed, and bending toward the sun.

By: olive & hope

olive & hope — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:11:32 +0000

It is absolutely time! Love this. Going forth and blossoming