I find myself eager for settling in with a cup of tea or glass of wine with those whom I admire and hearing their story whispers. I crave these stories and voices.
The magic inside of the words, the treat of the truth and that moment of ‘yes, me too’ are why we must keep sharing our stories. I am making an effort to hear stories in person and through connection as well as tell my stories in whatever ways the words wish to flow out.
Go listen to the story whispers all around you and make sure to tell some of your own.
Today I welcome Dave Ursillo and his gorgeous ability to weave words that make you feel, move, create and desire. Dave sent me a tweet a little over a year ago saying he too lived in RI and I was pumped to find a kindred writer in my state. Then he told me he was moving to NY. Dude! But when Dave is in RI we get the chance to co-work together in my secret coffee shop location and end up talking about writing, freedom and marketing for hours. While we work of course!
Words deliver magic. Dave and I meet at that place where every word is part of the passion for living. And inside of that passion for living there are no rules; you use your breath, your heart, your hands.
Giveaway Time!!!
Dave recently launched The Literati Writer’s Group a place of juicy goodness for writers at any stage. I have had some inside glances into what he has created and I am overjoyed to share it with you. I believe in it so deeply that I want to offer a 3 month gift to one of my readers. Just leave a comment at the bottom and share with me a favorite quote from a book or poem. I’ll draw a random winner next Thursday!
Please welcome Dave…
Take us through your gorgeous life in terms of your senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, sound and any others that you possess.
It’s the taste of like rich, slow-brewed coffee cascading off of the first glimmers of morning. The first breaths after of a day, metabolizing possibility into reality. It’s the smell of a deep salt breeze whisking through your lungs from over the bay; it sounds like car horns and city bustle of the East Village; it’s the feel of four-hundred eyes fixated upon you on stage; it’s the passing looks of the faces of one million strangers bobbing like a river as you walk down the street.
The moment you knew you had found your thing, the one that would propel you forward because you can’t not do it.
How do you want to feel when you are inside of your creative life?
Free. Unencumbered and light, but grounded and rock-solid. Unshakable Unapologetic. Like no one owns, restricts, forbids or denies any part of me and what I believe and what I choose to say, do, dare or dream. From that freedom, from that space, comes great responsibility. I want the responsibility of that freedom. I want others to have it, too. We have to trust one another to be self-determinant.
Magical moments: what are they to you and how do you open to receiving them?
My magical moments usually dawn just beyond a long pause of deep anxiety: tenseness, reluctance, outright fear. It’s my passion, it’s my brazen, it’s my tenacity that carries me through the fear and unknown to reach the other side. The fear is how I know it’s worth it. And on the other side of the uncertainty, there is joy. Total, shoulder-melting gratitude. It’s how it feels when the message writes itself. When I spend hours on end with a friend, new or old or a total stranger, experiencing life and stories and conversation — true moments, true presence. It’s when I stand to teach new faces, or riff on an idea that matters to the listener. It’s any advice I can muster, it’s saying I care, it’s showing up and proving it, and proving it, and proving it, and proving it.
Ritual that you start your day with.
I’m not a very ritual person, outside of my morning coffee. And yet I try to ease into every day from the early morning to find the day’s flow. To find the flow of the day usually requires a bit of exploring, bending and tweaking: it depends on factors both outside and inside of myself, like the weather, the energy of the place or people around me, how I’m feeling myself, what priorities are about me and what my wants are in that moment. It’s like tuning a guitar. Find the flow. Find the tune. Play.
Favorite part of you, physical or otherwise, tell us why you love it?
My heart. Unflinchingly strong. A powerhouse for good. It is a best friend, confidant and teacher — one that has never asked for anything in return. My heart is the strongest thing about me. And I love that, by its nature, the heart is physically untouchable — but can be felt by all.
Favorite quote:
A mantra or affirmation that guides you:
Lead Without Followers. Live from Within.
Your guiding word/s for the year:
Wanna win 3 months in The Literati Writer’s Group? I know right??
{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Since my intention for the year is to write a lot more and connect with my true voice, I am very excited about the possibility of joining this writer’s group.
One of my favorite writers is Anais Nin and I love when she said:
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Totally one of my favorites Leah. I love your intention, love. And remember your voice always is your true voice, it gets to evolve and grow with you. xo
Hi Leah!
You pick a fantastic quote from Anais Nin. Every writer must experience that feeling in their own creative journey, to some degree. Every line of fear is a teacher to the writer: when we can reveal those dividing lines that hold us back, we discover the means to step past them. And most of the time, when we step through the fear, we discover that it wasn’t hardly as tough as we once thought!
Dave
As a recent addition to the Literati writer’s group I’m so excited to see this opportunity. It seems like a pretty inspiring group of peeps….
Thrilled to have you on board Cassia
Love that you joined Cassia!
Hannah,
I’ve shared with you how I’d love to have the words effortlessly flow from my mind and through me. I’m pretty creative… in my mind. When it comes to putting them on paper or the web something gets lost in transit – a re-route, a detour, a block. There are inner barriers I must overcome (I’m sure), but to learn from you both would be a heart-filled gift.
The quote that comes to mind is one I put in my year book (I didn’t realize how true this was for my Soul). Ready?
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.” ~ Ferris Bueller
Muwah!
Kelly Ann
Darling, you are so not getting lost in translation, I promise you. Don’t even believe that. They are so where they need to be now and the practice of doing, of putting them down changes everything. And you are doing that.
Love that quote of course.
You’re right – practice, put them down. I write like I speak. But, what is in my mind seems so much more eloquent.
Hey Kelly Ann!
That Ferris Bueller quote sums up my beliefs on what the writer’s journey deserves to feel like: a reward, in itself.
The creative experience can be a tough one but never needs to be a torturous one that makes us feel like victims to our own craft. The journey is the reward after all, so it’s important to value and relish the experience when we “stop and look around once in a while”!
Dave
Dave,
Thank you. The journey IS the reward. We tend to look “out there, down the road, when I hit this milestone” as the reward, but it IS the journey…. life, love, writing…
I’ve looked back at some of the stuff I’ve written and wonder excitedly ‘did I write that?’
I do admire those who have eloquence, charisma, and are playful with words that just pull me in. I want to be the puller inner.
Kelly Ann
How generous!
“May you be happy and peaceful, safe and blissful, content
and fulfilled and always keep growing and glowing.
May you have all that you need and long for.
May your noble dreams come true for you. May love flourish and blossom in your life.” ~Lama Surya Das
Gorgeous Loren.
“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
The Desiderata of Happiness, by Max Ehrmann.
Ironically enough, I just blogged about that poem today
So beautiful babe. Link to the blog?
Here I am: http://adkjerseygirl.wordpress.com/
Great quote Terra! I think that self-belief is the most basic and fundamental force of our happiness — a happiness that is continually reaped by ourselves and those around us, including our families and friends!
Thanks for sharing!
Dave
This? “…because what we choose is what we are capable of. And to choose ourselves is truly Divine.” A-to-the-men. I can’t tell you how very much I love this.
I’ve committed myself this year to DO the writing. I’ve wanted to make writing my life’s work for so long. Motherhood has in equal parts stifled and unleashed it. 2013 is the year when I make writing a ritual, a daily prayer to making it happen. I’m reading Ann Lamott’s Bird By Bird & it’s simplicity is revolutionary for me. I need to put up or shut up. It’s happening. Would love to join a group of kindred spirits who can’t live without words.
Oy, one quote? I’ve collected them my entire life (hooray for Pinterest!) so one is an old Cherokee saying found on the interwebs:
An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.
One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy and truth.”
The boy thought about it, and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?’
The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”
And because one is never enough, from Albert Camus, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.”
Thanks for this, Hannah!
LOVE it, Carla!!
You’re committing yourself to doing the writing, which means you’re committing to your belief in yourself and what you have to say — that’s incredibly empowering in itself before anything is even written, because everyone has true value to share through their unique stories, lessons and experiences.
And, oh my, that Albert Camus quote? Makes me weak in tha kneeeeeeees!
Dave
I love that, for forever(!) I felt like writing was not my thing. My ex-boyfriend was a great writer and I left it to him. Journaling irritated me. Now it is one of my most passionate things to do. That amazes me.
“Breathe properly. Stay curious. And eat your beets.”
― Tom Robbins, Jitterbug Perfume
It’s great to honor that natural progression Persephone, rather than forcing a love of it or anything else! I used to *despise* English class, poetry, literature… now I quite love all of them and hope to honor them everyday as a writer. But the process was an organic one and totally authentic to my own learning, growth and evolution. For you, it sounds like the same!
Thanks for sharing!!
Dave
A quote I just discovered is:
“Begin today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy.” -Sarah Ban Breathnach. Beginnings were not always easy for me. I am ready for more joy and made a declaration on my blog. (Hannah… more spirit of joy in my life!). My other long time favorite quote is:
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” – Helen Keller
Blessings Nancy
Great picks Nancy!
I really believe in the “begin today” mantra. It’s not that we’re totally prepared (we never are), it’s not that we know better than anyone else (surely others know more), it’s about picking ourselves, believing in ourselves, and trusting that we’ll find our balance as we keep pedaling and moving forward with positive momentum.
Thank you for sharing
Dave
Thank you for sharing yourself as you do, Dave. Thank you for this generous offer, Hannah, and for your beautifully shared post. I would love the opportunity to join in this life-changing group. I am ready.
Here is a quote that a friend shared yesterday, that then stayed with me, and my heart, for the rest of the day and night…
“I have written every poem, every novel, for the same purpose – to find out what I think, to know where I stand.” – Journal of a Solitude, May Sarton
Love the presence and confidence of your words Maya, and you’re certainly welcome for sharing — thank you for sharing yourself as well!
That’s a lovely quote from May Sarton — one I don’t feel enough people really understand, let alone honor, about writing and all art forms: that art is a personal means of exploration and understanding, and one that really beautifully allows others to explore and understand, themselves.
Wishing you the best!
Dave
Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfull words, Dave. I find that as long as I remind myself that I write for myself, first, I stay (mostly) balanced, most days.
I am eager to see who wins a spot in your dynamic group, and am wishing ALL of us, here, the very best in their creative, self-expressive, very needed ventures of the heart and soul! Good luck!
This year I signed up for Ali Edward’s “One Little Word” class. The word that found me, that wasn’t even on my original list of 16 words–is story. It has felt for some time like part of me is frozen, the sensory part, but the stories are clawing to get out. I’m starting to let them. But I need help. On my mirror I have written: I write to breathe–got that from you dear Hannah. I have many favorite quotes. I’m carrying this one around with me lately: “My task is to make you hear, feel and see. That and no more, and that is everything.”–Joseph Keller
How can I help you, Randi? Those stories you mention that are clawing to get out want you to recognize them, see them, and honor them. And let me be the very first to tell you — it can feel like a daunting, scary thing. But from my own experiences, what felt scary was that I’d have to “admit” something to myself as if I was guilty of things that I’ve been denying. In truth, for me, writing my stories that were clawing to get out felt far more unburdening than burdening; more release than anything else. Maybe it will feel the same for you!
Just at the end of last year, while I was working HARD on soul work and intentional movement through stuckness, I was slammed with the surprise of wanting to write a book and being told that I could…Since that moment the dream has danced and struggled and grown inside of me, wanting a door, a passage way, into this gorgeous life…
“A perfect falcon, for no reason
has landed on your shoulder,
and become yours.” -Rumi
It seems you’ve been quite blessed Melissa to have that book-writing “want” seem to choose you and then to be told that you could(!). You are the door, the passage way, and writing is the duty that births the dream into life. You can do it. Just begin. Start today.
Thank you for sharing! Rumi is a great favorite of mine!
Dave
I’ve had this line going through my head all morning:
“There’s a grief that can’t be spoken, there’s a pain goes on and on…” from Les Miz. (A few friends are going through very rough times and also the movie was just really good.)
But there’s also joy, and so I wrote about the two today: http://www.alexis-yael.com/2013/01/poeming-on-thursday.html
Hi Alexis! That quote is a powerful one, but it makes my poor little optimist’s heart sad
I guess that makes sense though if its from Les Miserables!
Thank you for sharing the joy!
Dave
one of my favorite quotes these days is from julia cameron…
the capacity for delight is the ability to pay attention.
would love the chance to win! <3
Great quote Erica that you chose from Julia Cameron (I often share her practice of Morning Pages with my writers), thank you for sharing it!
To me, that quote sings of gratitude, acknowledgment and honoring the moment.
All keys to delight, I would say!
Dave
“I do not know how the story ends. I have not been there yet”
Where are you right now Deepti? I want to know
Dave
I live in Mumbai, India, Dave
The whispers of stories is a such a fascinating illuminating idea Dave, because I identify with it deeply, because I am the story so I couldn’t help sharing my own quote inspite of the geography that keeps our worlds apart. Just wanted to share
thanks for responding.
and to answer your question… I’m somewhere deep into the story, still traveling
“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” Rumi
That bitch in my head tells me “you can never be a writer” and so I gulp down the stories of others, hoping, desperate that they will quench my soul, nourish my spirit. Perhaps the time has come. Dare I commit to writing? Scary.
Loved this “Story Whisper”. Happy to meet you Dave.
You’re already a writer Angela.
In many ways, we all are. We are writers of our stories in the decisions we make every day. Writers of our destinies in how we choose to live, year after year. We create our reality daily. The actual writing is just one little piece of how we choose to tell those stories, over and again
I would love to help you own that title of writer more proudly, Angelina! Please let me know however I might best support you.
Thank you for sharing, and lovely to connect. The pleasure was mine.
Dave
I am afraid my quote is rather long but I simply couldn’t cut it shorter than this! I have spent the last year – and 6 months in particular – being bolder than ever before and growing and evolving at a rate I can only just keep up with! I usually take my foot off the proverbial gas pedal once it begins to get a little scarey or I feel out of control but I made a promise to myself to not do that anymore. To keep that foot down.
Writing was my first love, and the first thing I can remember being good at too. I won writing contests as a child from a very early age, and I always knew – knew – I would be a published author one day, but at some undefinable point I stopped writing, stopped expressing myself and my creativity completely.
It isn’t that I am dry for inspiration either (although I like to use it as an excuse sometimes!), rather, it feels like I am so ‘behind’ on my writing (journal, blog, the book that does not yet exist, even letters I wished I had written people by now – everything!) that there is simply too much to write now. I won’t have the time to write it all out. I won’t get it right because that wonderful thing I wanted to blog about is fading from my memory and I am losing the important details that made it matter.
I think the release from blocks, the flow of creativity and expression, comes from opening ourselves up to vulnerability. Be open and honest, and shine a light on our fears, and we take their power away; we remove shame. I believe that process has started for me.
Which leads me nicely to my quote… (so so sorry this is such a long post!!!)…
“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable. That’s why it loves perfectionists – it’s so easy to keep us quiet. If we cultivate enough awareness about shame to name it and speak to it, we’ve basically cut it off at the knees. Shame hates having words wrapped around it. [Angela - I LOVE that line!]
If we speak shame, it begins to wither. Just the way exposure to light was deadly for the gremlins, language and story bring light to shame and destroy it.
Just like Roosevelt advised, when we dare greatly we will err and we will come up short again and again. There will be failures and mistakes and criticism. If we want to be able to move through the difficult disappointments, the hurt feelings, and the heartbreaks that are inevitable in a fully lived life, we can’t equate defeat with being unworthy of love, belonging, and joy.
If we do, we’ll never show up and try again. Shame hangs out in the parking lot of the arena, waiting for us to come out defeated and determined never to take risks. It laughs and says, “I told you this was a mistake. I knew you weren’t _____ enough.” Shame resilience is the ability to say, “This hurts. This is disappointing, maybe even devastating. But success and recognition and approval are not the values that drive me. My value is courage and I was just courageous. You can move on, shame.” ”
Brene Brown
Angela, you’re so right: vulnerability is pivitol for the writer, teh artist, the creative, hell — anyone who wishes to live well, be happy and live unapologetically.
And I understand that feeling of “there’s too much to write,” but truly, think of your writing as not a testament to where you’ve been — needing to chronicle, detail, and retell everything from the past, right now — but rather, as a matter of how you honor this present moment.
This moment is the only one we ever have. Time is like one continual present moment. So when you write “in the now,” you’re continually honoring where you’ve been and where you’re going — you don’t need to share every detail or make up for lost time.
Just start today. Honor where you are now.
And whenever the moment is right, a lesson, story, tale or experience from the past can reappear in writing and reach out to another soul.
Wishing you the best!!
Dave
I SO wanted to do this but I’m short on cash right now.
Peg, email me! dave@daveursillo.com
Keep shining!
Dave
“Tell me, what is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Mary Oliver
What’s your answer, Sharon?
Dave
Hm, I know my plan. Love this quote Sharon!
Oh beautiful, you are such a sweet soul, Hannah. Love that you are doing this. I’ve seen you mention Dave so many times, and am glad you’re introducing him to us
One of my favorites is from Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese.”
“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”
Hi Ruth!
An honor and pleasure to finally meet you!
Wonderful quote, thank you so much for sharing
Dave
Thanks sweet one. This quote should be your guide for the year baby!
Having trouble posting so I hope this is a duplicate!
My favorite quote/poem is this:
“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches”
ee cummings
“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”
Havelock Ellis
Wow. That Havelock Ellis quote is new to me. And based on my last few months I couldn’t agree more in this in and out, in and out of life.
oops-isn’t
Even after all this time,
The sun never says to the earth,
You owe me.
Look at a love like that,
It lights up the whole sky.
–Hafiz
I would love to join you.
This one makes my heart jump out a little bit extra when it beats. xo
This is all so very beautiful. If I might stop crying long enough to reply, the quote I most often repeat to myself is from Rumi, “Don’t fall back asleep.” I would love love love to have a space to keep myself accountable.
You are always welcome in our community, Alana! Stay awake
“The shell must break before the bird can fly”
-Alfred Lord Tennyson
I’m still trying to get comfortable with life outside my broken shell. Looking forward to eventually flying…hoping writing from the heart will be part of the flight.
Flying doesn’t only happen in moments of those dreamed-of glory, Raychel. At least, that’s been the case in my experiences. We need to fly from where we are. The magic happens when we keep flying.
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