MORNING ANTHEM by Michiella Stone

Sunlight bleeds through the gaps of her blinds

Scroll scroll scroll

What’s next?

This primer is supposed to minimize my pores

It doesn’t

Alexa, what’s the weather today

Alexa, what’s today’s news

Alexa, play

Rush

Rush

Rush

I rob myself of time

Hurry

Hurry

Hurry

I can’t be the late friend again

Out the door, to be present

Forsaking myself and my

Spiritual and mental needs

But wait,

Why do we violate ourselves with busy schedules?

The lie that it indicates importance dances before me

What is this chase?

A full calendar assuring me of my worth

Things to get done, places to be, people to meet with

No, daughter

Not even close

Learn to be still, precarious one

For in stillness of self you’ll find security

Let me tell you

From the moment of your birth

Your beginning began

Constellations can be traced from the freckles on your back

And they indicate that you were not created to live a life of chasing value

Promises that are deeper than the darkness of her pupils

It promises a movement

Yet

Where has she been? What has she seen?

Heartbreak

But

Let me tell you

The tears you’ve cried do not go to waste

Let me tell you

That by grace you experienced that heartbreak

And by grace you overcame it

And again, by grace

You will shout from the mountains how you grew from it

For the next girl to hear

For we

Must unlearn

The mold we have adopted

And we will see that we were made to be free

From the question of value

It was never a question to begin with

Author: Michiella Stone


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Michiella Stone

Becoming a mother in my early 20’s incited me to create a space that I could call my own. My love for writing and desire to offer hope to other women through what I shared became the basis of starting my blog. It served as my personal outlet where I could unpack and reflect on emotions or learning experiences (that’s why it’s dubbed as “my open grace and growth journal”). I quickly learned that an individual’s choice to be vulnerable can be powerful. If we look around us today, writing is as valuable as ever as it keeps us tethered to ourselves, the world around us, and our neighbors who inhabit it with us.

I have had the honor to be a writing contributor for a non-profit, Imperishable Beauty, where I shared my story and wrote from my faith. Now I have the honor of being a contributor for Woman Up where I look forward to writing from the woman I am. I am grateful for these opportunities because beyond allowing me to water my passion, they allow me to keep learning. I have so much to learn from my fellow writing contributors and the readers of Woman Up. I believe that learning can be synonymous with receiving, therefore we should try to always be ready to learn and give. My hope is that other women would feel seen and heard through what I have to give here. It is my hope that my words, inspired from my own challenges, would touch her and remind her that she is not alone, that she is capable, and that she is worthy.

In this day and age, a blog can generate a community. Let’s be a community that lifts each other up, is not afraid to take up space in the room, and humbly continues to grow in knowledge and compassion.

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