Reader,
Before I sat down to write this letter, I was belting out Donell Jones’ song Knocks Me Off My Feet—purely on instinct, and because I’m alone and wanted to know what it would feel like to sing something at the top of my lungs without judgment.
It was awesome. I was probably way off key, but oh man, it felt so good.
Lately, I’ve been following energy, and also stepping back when the energy feels off. I think I’ve gotten pretty good at this intuitive thing.
I won’t lie, the last 7 days have been tough. But what I’ve noticed is that even when I allow myself to feel whatever I need to feel, I keep returning to these small acts of creative love. Don’t feel like drafting the next chapter of this novel-in-progress (that’s been stuck in chapter one for months)? Okay.
Maybe I’ll read a handwritten letter from a friend and check in with my energy.
Maybe I’ll step outside for the brief moment the sun appears and notice how I feel.
Or maybe I’ll sing at the top of my lungs, just to see what it feels like.
I guess curiosity alone can be enough of a catalyst to shift me somewhere else. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t always work, but I’m always open to trying.
This morning, I sat down to host an Insight Timer live session, still carrying some of the heaviness from last week. But I showed up, shared honestly with the room how I was feeling, and asked everyone what they were feeling. I opened myself to the unexpected and ended up reading an excerpt from my notebook aloud, to a room of, at one point, almost 100 people. Then, someone asked if they could share a poem. They pasted it stanza by stanza into the chat, and as I finished reading each one out loud to the room, they’d send the next. A rhythm emerged, a current of energy that’s hard to describe. We didn’t plan it, and I don’t know this person, but what unfolded was a powerful back-and-forth about creativity, spontaneity, the desire to be heard, and what can happen when we show up in spaces where our whole selves are welcome.
I haven’t felt that kind of aligned energy in a long time. And I want more of it ... from every space I show up in. And you should too.
After the session, I felt compelled to write, and to belt out another song so loud I’m sure the people across the lake could hear me.
And when things get tough again (because they will), I’ll call on that fleeting feeling. I'll use at as reminder. I'll put a megaphone in front of it. Because it matters. It’s valuable. Saying no with love isn’t always clear or direct. Sometimes it looks like saying no to formula, no to structure, so light can slip in.
So here’s my no with love today: I’m saying no to writing these letters every week. While I’ve enjoyed the rhythm of weekly sharing, I want to give myself more space and more room for stories. From now on, you can expect a Say No With Love story just one Sunday each month.
While I have you, and since I’m reflecting on how often and how deeply I want to begin here, what’s something you want to hear more about when it comes to saying no with love? This is your space, too. Reply and let me know. Because just like in that session this morning, when we create the conditions for people to share openly, magic happens.
Since I'll be moving to a monthly format for these letters, I’ll be using that extra time to share more about my upcoming workshops, which you can learn about here. I’m creating these workshops because I want to set the conditions for you to share, too. I hope you’ll check them out and add your name to the list.
The workshop room is also where I'll be sharing more info about free seasonal resources and offerings relating to creativity and the self. I'm excited!
That’s it for now—see you next month!
Reflect + Rewrite
This Week's Reflection Question: What’s one small, curious act you can try this week to shift your energy when things feel heavy?
After answering the reflection question, revisit what you wrote.
Is there a single line—just one—that surprised you?
Maybe it stirred something. Maybe it made you pause.
Copy that line out. Sit with it.
As always, if you feel called, I’d love to see it. Hit reply and share it with me.
See you next week! If this letter moved you in some way, please forward it to a friend.
with love, Chelene
Founder, Breathing Space Creative
Want to explore more of my work? I offer bespoke writing mentorships, creative support calls, and free creative resources through my studio. But for now, just take what you need. I’ll be here.
