Lately I’ve been leaning into this poem as a healing balm at the start or end of a busy day. You may have heard me open a yoga class with these rich inviting words from Danna Faulds. She has a simple and profound way of offering the gift of pause, self-reflection, and an opportunity to step off the treadmill of busyness.

Take your time, read it more than once and slowly, feel each word, and notice what it stirs or settles inside of you. Enjoy!

Walk Slowly by Danna Faulds

It only takes a reminder to breathe,

A moment to be still, and just like that,

Something in you settles, softens, makes

space for imperfection. The harsh voice

of judgment drops to a whisper and you

remember again that life isn’t a relay race;

that waking up to life is what we

were born for. As many times as you

forget, catch yourself charging forward,

that many times you can make the choice

to stop, to breathe, to be, and to walk

slowly into the mystery.