Pause for Peace: The Moment

Episode Title: Pause for Peace: "The Moment" by Margaret AtwoodEpisode Description: In this Midweek Pause for Peace, Laura Davis offers a poem that stops you cold — and then cracks something open. Margaret Atwood's "The Moment" holds up a mirror to one of humanity's oldest assumptions, and asks us to look again. Paired with peaceful imagery, this episode is a quiet invitation to reconsider what we think we own — and what has always owned us.What Laura Covers in This Episode:Why Laura chose this particular Atwood poem and what it illuminates about the human relationship with the natural worldThe tension at the heart of "The Moment" — between the desire for ownership and the world's quiet, firm refusalHow poetry can shift perspective and loosen the grip of assumptions we didn't know we were holdingAn invitation to sit with Atwood's closing whisper and let it settle into the nervous systemAbout Host Laura Davis: Laura Davis is an acclaimed author and writing teacher with over 35 years of experience helping writers craft powerful, authentic stories. She is the author of seven books, including the award-winning memoir "The Burning Light of Two Stars," which won the BookLife Prize in 2021. Laura is also co-author of the groundbreaking book "The Courage to Heal."Through her Midweek Pause for Peace podcast series, Laura pairs carefully selected poetry with peaceful imagery to support listeners' emotional wellness and nervous system regulation.Each week, host Laura Davis pairs beautiful imagery with meaningful poetry, offering listeners a respite for both heart and nervous system. These midweek pauses provide essential moments of reflection, healing, and inspiration in our complex world.Perfect for: Anyone seeking Laura Davis' signature blend of poetry and peace, those managing stress and anxiety, and listeners who appreciate thoughtful, heart-centered content.About Margaret Atwood: Margaret Atwood was born in Ottawa in 1939 and is one of Canada's finest living writers — a poet, novelist, essayist, and environmental activist whose work has been published in more than forty-five countries. Her fifty-plus books include The Handmaid's Tale, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin (2000 Booker Prize), and The Testaments (2019 Booker Prize co-winner). Her most recent book, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, was published in November 2025. Visit her at: https://margaretatwood.ca/CONNECT WITH LAURA DAVISJoin Laura's Community: Subscribe to Laura Davis' Midweek Pause for Peace series for consistent, nurturing content that honors both your need for beauty and your nervous system's need for calm.The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support her work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. You'll receive regular posts like these, as well as beautifully crafted reflections, prompts, essays on life and the craft of writing, and more.Subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com/Learn about Laura's writing classes, books, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurasaridavis.substack.com/subscribe