Greetings!
Lately, I've heard from several people who are struggling with and learning from their experience of being in what we call "the trembling." This is the space of uncertainty and ambiguity that comes between walking out and walking on. A few of our friends whose stories we told in Walk Out Walk On find themselves trembling these days--which reminds me that walking out isn't necessarily a one-time experience. We can find ourselves transiting through this space over and over again. In my own life, I've been struggling with staying present in the trembling these past months. I wrote a blog about my adventures in this awkward, in-between place. Despite the discomfort and challenge, trembling is a critical part of the Walk Out Walk On path, rich with learning. And it's always better to be in it with others. The Walk Out Walk On Share Your Story feature, our Find One Another map and Facebook page offer Walk Outs in the trembling ways to stay connected and communicate about their experiences. Several folks who find themselves in this state of limbo have been sharing ideas, inspiring one another and even toying with ideas for collaboration. In this month's newsletter, we offer stories and reflections from our community about being in the trembling.
Warmly,  Aerin Dunford |
Life and Death Outside My Bedroom Window
 In her latest blog post Deborah Frieze reflects from her bedroom window on different ways of relating to the trembling. Do we experience it as a painful, shuddering death? Or as a thrilling place of joy and risk-taking? Deborah shares correspondence with a friend who recently decided to walk out of his job. He wisely reminds himself (and us): "I trust that life will now open new doors if I am calm enough to pay attention and act when they come. To wait for the right wave and not paddle too soon." Through conversations with both the natural world and with this colleague, the author of Walk Out Walk On illuminates her own way of relating to the uncertainty and anticipation that often arise in the trembling. Read more.
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Top 10 Signs You're in the Trembling
Do your emails frequently include the expression, "ARRRGHHH!!!!!!!!"? Do you spend time pondering what you want to be when you grow up? Does the question, "What do you do?" require several minutes of explanation? Then you may also be experiencing symptoms of trembling. Don't worry! This experience can also be joyfully absurd as it deviates from our business-as-usual mindset. Here's a list of ten light-hearted ways you might be able to tell that you're in this limbo-like state. Read more.
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Walk Out Stories: Women In Between
In June, we received several Walk Out stories and submissions on our Find One Another map that sparked meaningful online dialogue, connections and collaborations. Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris shared her story, "Walking Out of the Gallery Scene," which began a conversation about making connections with other Walk Outs in Northern Holland. Cat Lupton added herself to our map, which led us to her blog, The Place Between Stories, a space about "learning how to live with being in midair." A moving, multi-faceted conversation has unfolded in the comments on Cat's recent post about staying present, how we choose to spend our days and listening for our "call." Sarah ended up writing a guest post on the blog: "Inhabiting the White Space," where she delves into many details of her Walk Out Walk On journey. Veena Vasista also shared her story and soon wove herself into the dialogue. It has been powerful to see these connections unfold and to feel a bit more grounded by knowing that we are not alone.
Photo by Filiz Telek
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