What's blossoming?
The best thing about having a podcast is that I get to celebrate my friends and help to tell their story.
In my friend Rumi's case, it turned out she'd been writing since she was a child but just hadn't actually stepped into the identity as a writer until more recently. Her writer's instinct was clearly there all along though.
When I think of Rumi I think of tiny, exquisite, beautiful things. She speaks with a raw and frankly, rare honesty about her own struggles and small wins in life and in doing so she helps me to see my own flaws and shortcomings for just what they are - all part of being human. She explores all that and more on her thought-provoking and inspiring blog, Nudge which is a dollop of goodness dropping into my inbox that feels like receiving a letter from a true friend.
Rumi's stories have always been powerful. The way she captures a moment in time. From a moment of shame at failing to match up to her own expectation as a parent to a moment around a kitchen table that was heartbreakingly conflicted. It's helped me see that everything changes when we can find a little self compassion. I always knew it was true, but Rumi has shown me how to find it. There's a sense of past wounds slowly being healed by the courage it must take to share those moments of what it is to be Rumi. I'm happy to say that courage has reaped rewards. Rumi now has not one, but two books to her name. The first, 'I want to Remember this' is a tiny and perfect compilation of those seemingly insignifcant moments that make up a life. She deftly juxtaposes the everyday with the profound and leaves me wanting to capture my own. She has followed this up with 'I want this for you' which digs deeper with her trademark candour and insight into the heartbreak and humour that go into being a parent.
But that's not all - Rumi has also made Garden Meditations Tiny cards crafted with a nod to her Japanese heritage. Exquisitely simple, functional and beautiful. A bleached wooden card holder houses the day's card. On the front, a picture from a Japanese Garden she frequents in Seattle and on the reverse, a simple question or reflection. Questions like, 'What's blossoming?' or 'What storms have you weathered?' that cause me to pause for a moment and take heart as I reflect on the answer.
But I'm most proud of Rumi for the story she recently had published in the New York Times infamous column, 'Modern Love' Tiny stories that explore love in all its glorious forms. Short stories are by far and away the hardest to write as each word needs to count. Mark Twain famously summed up the challenge - 'If I'd had more time, I'd have written you a shorter letter'. True to form, her story 'Where our palms touch' is a tiny dose of perfection.
Rumi's own words capture the feeling of reaching a personal goal:
'My essay, ‘Where Our Palms Touch,’ got published in the New York Times on June 27, 2023. A dream come true for a longtime fan of the Modern Love column!'
You can catch more of Rumi telling her story on her episode of Collective Wisdom which is all about how to find courage in the moment and beat the resistance. Rumi has shown what can happen when you do.
So I'll leave you on this late spring day with that empowering question;
What's blossoming for you?
Me? I'm busy planning my first in person workshop. It's designed as a catalyst for creativity - a space to retreat from the everyday and give yourself time to explore what's calling you.
And you? Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear all about it and if I can help with a nudge towards making your dreams come true, you know where you can find me.
With love ,
PS Rumi chose this song which is a reminder that we all have our mountains to climbe and is always a good way to start any day!
