The Journey-Mary Oliver

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began,

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice--

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do--

determined to save

the only life you could save.

As I review my 700 or so emails that I can't seem to get down to below 500 anymore due to the volume pouring into my inbox, I see many from women entrepreneurs sharing their newsletters, ezines, business programs, coaching services and tips on marketing, getting noticed, how to find love, juice up my sex life, how to find the tribe I'm meant to serve, or petitions to sign or nonprofit news of some sort.  Lots of words, too many voices.  When do I find time to listen to my Inner Wise Woman's voice?

It's time to BE Still.  Go outside in the winter wind, feel the air, declare my questions to Mother and just BE Still.  The answers are there.  They always are.