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A. Wilder Westgate's avatar

I am a swayer! My mom used to say it's because she rocked me so much as a baby lol. Now I know it's likely one of my autistic stims, which I do (as you mentioned) for comfort. I love that you are swaying to comfort yourself in moments like the ones you mentioned, especially in public.

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Kaitlin Curtice's avatar

yes! I think a lot of us have this particular form of movement, wherever it may come from. Thank you for sharing!

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Jewel's avatar

Thank you for this. I notice myself swaying as well in many situations. I’m glad I’m not alone. I’m glad there are others in the world consciously caring and making space.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

I find myself swaying sometimes, and I, too, think it's an attempt at comforting, a remnant of when I had little children and would hold them and sway to try and soothe them.

Thanks for coming to our store.

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Kaitlin Curtice's avatar

Loved coming to Nooks! Can't wait to be back. We can sway together. :):)

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Eirikah Delaunay's avatar

Thank you for these beautiful words to begin my day. ✨🕯️✨

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Margaret Somerville's avatar

I feel myself swaying with you as I read these words that are sinking deeply. Thank you for the ways in which you connect us all.

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Naila Francis's avatar

I rock back and forth all the time. When I offer grief workshops, I always invite participants into this practice too. It feels instinctively soothing.

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Katie Spring's avatar

"Permission slips are temporary, and I want you to care about your well-being forever." !!! I love this, and felt it so deeply when I read it. Thank you, Kaitlin.

About swaying - when W. was a baby, I realized I could always pick out the mothers in a group by who was swaying back and forth. We were all so used to swaying while holding our babies. And you are holding possibilities, dreams, poems — which also need a gentle place to grow and reach out into the world. I think swaying and movement in a society that so often tells us exactly how to be is its own form of resistance ❤️

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Thrive's avatar

Thank you for fueling our hearts with your very own.

Right back 'atcha.

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Carrie M's avatar

Reading this was like taking deep, cleansing breaths. 🩷

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

I love this, Kaitlin, and the beautiful poem you shared with us. I am a swayer and rocker, too, and apparently have been since I was a baby. I always look for rocking chairs in the room. I rock in the car, at meetings, to music, when rreading, on a zoom call, and at random times. I now know it is one of the ways of easing my anxiety, but I also liketo think I am moving to some unseen and unheard rhythm that connects me to earth, my ancestors and a spirit that is larger than anything I can imagine.

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Ashleigh Allen's avatar

I’m sitting in a coffee shop swaying now after feeling a wave of panic and grief, feeling a little embarrassed (stimming publicly is still something I’m working through), but also feeling comforted. Thank you for this.

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Elisa S. Johnston's avatar

I once watched myself speaking at an event, and I also swayed right to left over and over. I was so surprised, until a friend pointed out I do this a lot, a type of stemming. Eventually I realized it comforts me too, like it did my babies. But until reading this, I always thought it was a quirk to hide, distracting. But what if it comforted others too!

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