I stood before about 50 people, ready to offer my writing workshop at Outwild. It was the final day of a three-day retreat focused on helping people create outdoor, value-driven lives. It had already been an engaging week, full of workshops on mindset and outdoor adventures in climbing and white-water rafting. I explained that we would be doing something different in this writing workshop. Instead of planning what to write, we would let the words flow—unedited and unfiltered.
This exercise blends writing, awareness practice, and vulnerability. After we finished our timed “naked writing” (raw, natural, unedited writing), we would be invited to share our words with the group.
Talk about daring! We humans prefer to offer our cleaned-up, polished selves, not our messy, imperfect attempts.
Naked Writing Rules
We settled into the exercise. I shared the rules for Naked Writing:
Keep Your Hand Moving (don’t worry about grammar, punctuation or being eloquent)
Be Specific (include details)
Lose Control (if you go “off topic,” don’t worry, just follow where the hand leads)
Don’t Think (don’t plan what you are going to say; allow words to flow naturally)
I explained that I would set a timer, and we would write for five minutes to an open-ended prompt.
We started with “Right now…”. Everyone got busy writing, and then I invited anybody interested to share. A few people did, and we began to break the ice together.
Breaking the Ice: Writing Without Filters
The second prompt we wrote to was “I remember…”
When I invited anybody to share their response, a man tentatively raised his hand and said,
“I didn’t really want to be here in this workshop. I wasn’t particularly interested in it and don’t like writing, hate sharing. I certainly never expected to be raising my hand during this workshop. But, right now, right here, I feel I have to share. I had no idea this was inside me.”
His voice trembled, his face was wet, and he was shaking. We didn’t know what to expect, but we felt the raw honesty about to unfold.
He read the words that had just flown out unbidden to the prompt “I remember…” He took us to the bedside of his dying mother and wrote about all the ways she had lovingly affected his life—words he had been unable to speak at the time. He talked about his struggles and hers and how deep down he had felt her support. He talked about not being in touch with these feelings at the time of her death. He couldn’t even cry. He hadn’t realized all these words and sentiments stuck inside him.
When he finished, there was not a dry eye in the lot. This man drew us together with his raw, unedited words, speaking naturally, sincerely, and honestly about his mother. We could see the man who had been stuck was free, so full of love for his mother it escaped its prior boundaries.
We saw him without his mask, without his polished presentation. He made us see his mom too—a woman full of love doing her best.
Why Being Seen Matters
This was the moment when I really understood the power of letting ourselves be seen just as we are—crying and sharing unpolished, heartfelt words.
Being seen is a deep human need. We long to be loved just as we are—warts and all. But what we practice more than anything is crafting a particular presentation and curating ourselves. When we dare to share our true, imperfect selves, we make real connections. We see each other not for the masks we wear but for the raw humanity underneath. This moment reminded me of the power of allowing our unpolished, authentic selves to be seen.
Feeling a message inside
There is another aspect to being seen too. That involves feeling a message inside ourselves that we know is meant to be shared. We might not trust ourselves to carry the message. Maybe we don’t trust our words. Still, when we take a leap and do our best to share what wants to be expressed through us, we live bigger and connect with others. We “Go Big!” as my son-in-law Alex writes whenever he offers his autograph.
Going Big: Sharing Your Truth
Going big means letting go of fear. It also means a willingness to practice, try, and keep reaching for something that seems just out of reach. It means trust. It probably means sharing.
This attitude comes back to the writing of Naked in the Now: Juicy Practices for Getting Present. I felt this book wanted to be written. I started and stopped writing it many times—I couldn’t get the tone right. I wasn’t sure if I had anything valuable to share. I wasn’t sure if anybody would listen. I wasn’t sure if my words would be seen and heard in the way I could envision. I wondered, Could I be trusted to deliver this message?
When Your Words Land
This morning, I opened my inbox and felt my heart flutter.
There it was—the detailed feedback from The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. I already knew Naked in the Now had won a Silver Medal, but this was different. This granular feedback was the part I hadn’t seen yet: the words of real readers who had sat with my book, lived inside its pages, intentionally judged it, and offered their reflections.
I sat there quietly, reading. One after another, the readers’ comments landed in my body like little waves—kind, warm, and playful. And more than anything, they made me feel seen.
Sometimes, we write, speak, or step forward with a shaky voice. We don’t know if what we’ve said will land or if our truth is too much. We don’t always know who’s listening.
But when our words reach someone’s heart, when our presence is met—it’s like something in us exhales.
What the Wishing Shelf Readers said
Here are just a couple of the things the Wishing Shelf readers said:
“Mindfulness and playfulness all in the same book! What a treat… there’s no preaching here; just a warm, reassuring way of living happily.”
— Female reader, age 58
“A light, almost playful read, well-organized, accessible, and often thought-provoking. You get the feeling, reading this, that the author is determined for her readers to find joy.”
— Male reader, age 69
All fifteen readers gave the book a 5-star rating, with 10/10 for the writing, editing, clarity, and content scores. Every single one of the 15 readers said they’d recommend it to a friend.
I don’t share this to toot my own horn (though it’s okay to ring a little bell now and then! 🔔), but because it reminded me what’s possible when we dare to be ourselves with others and in our creative work.
Gratitude for Being Heard
Whether we are sharing our naked writing—truth in the moment, or expressing a message that has been percolating, pining to be released–we take a risk, daring to expose ourselves to the judgment of others. But we gain the possibility of being seen and heard, of our message meeting its mark.
Naked in the Now isn’t an example of “naked writing” in the raw, unedited sense. It’s a carefully crafted book. But the message it carries is a vulnerable one. It asks readers to strip away pretense to meet themselves in the moment with presence, curiosity, and compassion. It equates mindfulness with nakedness. Writing and sharing that message took courage.
When we share from that place—whether our words are polished or fresh from the depths—we invite connection, understanding, and joy. We also make space for others to do the same.
Dare to Be Seen
So, I share this news as a reminder of what can happen when we dare to show up as ourselves—unpolished, imperfect, and genuine—or when we dare to offer our unique, potentially unconventional message. When we do, we create space for real connection, shared understanding, and joy, and we inspire others to do the same.
And that’s the real gift. Not just the feedback or recognition but the ability to say, “I was seen. I was heard. I am enough.”
So, if you’re sitting on your own words, your own message, waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect conditions, maybe today is the day to take a step forward. Share what’s inside, let the words flow, and be seen just as you are.
I’m cheering you on.
To Be Seen—and to See Ourselves—with Gentleness and Truth
That’s the kind of presence I believe in. That’s the kind of world I want to help build. If you’ve read Naked in the Now and it touched you, thank you. If you’ve shared it with someone, thank you. If you’re still curious, you can find it here on Amazon or here on Bookshop.org, if you prefer.
Call to Action:
Let’s keep the conversation going!
After reading this story, I’d love to hear from you: What’s one moment where you dared to show up authentically and let yourself be truly seen?
Drop your thoughts in the comments or send me a message—I’m always here to connect. And if this story inspired you, feel free to share it with a friend who could use a little extra courage today.
And don’t forget to check out the upcoming events below!
Upcoming Events:
📚 Write Now Mind Session Join me for the next session dedicated to diving into the power of writing, mindfulness, and presence. Whether you’re starting a new project or just need a creative boost, this session is for you! 🗓️ June/July 2025 (Email me to pre-register!) The class is free
🌊 Write by the Sea Virtual Community Need support in your writing journey? This virtual community offers space for connection, encouragement, and creativity. Bring your words, your curiosity, and your willingness to go deep. 🗓️ We meet Mondays, 2 pm Pacific, in person at the Loreto Bay Community Room and via Zoom (by invitation – reach out to me if you’re interested)
📍 Write by Red Rock – New in-person offering in Las Vegas! Join me on the first Wednesday of the month from 12:30 to 2 pm at the Blue Diamond Library! I’m awaiting final confirmation, but expect May 7 to be the first session. Email me for more information.
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