Lessons on Being a Woman

Lessons on Being a Woman

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Lessons on Being a Woman
Lessons on Being a Woman
Motion Without Emotion

Motion Without Emotion

on getting started

Jolee Donnelly's avatar
Jolee Donnelly
Apr 13, 2025
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Lessons on Being a Woman
Lessons on Being a Woman
Motion Without Emotion
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Before the day has light,
she forces one leg over
and then the other
until her feet touch the floor.

As she stands, 
she feels the weight of yesterday
cling to her bones.

She walks the steps she must.
Motion without emotion.

First this foot,
then the other
forward.

Into the next second
into the next minute,
until hands meet at 
heart’s center.

She moves back into life,
slow and unsure
yet surprisingly optimistic.

Affirmation to empower women to get started. Whether it be working out or writing take the emotion out of it and just get moving. Readers are also encouraged to use this to support reflective writing.

Note

If you set aside emotion, what steps forward might be easier to take in your life? If the resentment, fear, insecurity, etc. could be muted, what might you do? How do you think you would feel afterwards? What might happen if you went into motion with that feeling right now?

TIP: Keep in mind that these prompts are simply suggestions. The goal is to write reflectively. Let whatever shows up on the page be allowed to exist. Answer the questions…don’t answer the questions - just write.

Share your reflection with me here.

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Whenever I don’t want to work out, I tell myself to take the emotion out of it and just move. The whining and complaining I do in my head trying to give myself every excuse to stay in bed is outrageously loud.

I only got 6 hours of sleep, so I won’t be at the optimum level when riding.

I don’t have my favorite workout leggings.

I’ll workout this afternoon.

It’s too cold.

And so on and so on…

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