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Laura L. Rubin

@lauralrubin

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Author, Speaker, Founder @allswellcreative
📖 The Big Unlock | Available Now ⬇️
Mindful Journaling | Seen In NYTimes, Forbes, Vogue & More

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I take a “glamour selfie” every time I go for a breast checkup and send it to a friend. Why? It helps reclaim a bit of personal agency and add some levity to a situation that can be harrowing and dehumanizing. I wish I could say that as a 20-years-cured survivor I no longer have anxiety when it’s time for a scan. Untrue. Sometimes it’s gentler than others, but it’s never easy-breezy.

I don’t wear much pink, and I didn’t join a sorority in college. (Truth be told, I’m not much of a joiner in general.) But it is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth and as a double-decade survivor, I want to help others navigate the experience with a little more grace and context.

Not just as it relates to cancer, but to open up a broader dialogue about what it means to have your life unceremoniously interrupted by unwelcome news.

I was 31 when diagnosed. No family history. It was a fluke that it got found at all in an annual, standard gynecologist appointment. I was in the right place at the right time with the right doctor. I am one lucky duck to be here, and I know it.

So with this in mind, I’ll hope you can join me and @Baila.With.Val (founder of @TheFitizens) at @FinleysFiction in Southampton on October 22nd, to talk about finding our footing when faced with challenging and unexpected circumstances. We’ve both experienced breast cancer, but the conversation will reach beyond it—with a few micro-journaling prompts from my book, “The Big Unlock,” in the AllSwell spirit. Putting pen to paper certainly helps.
It’s my only BCAM event this month and I’d love to see you there, East Enders. You certainly don’t need to wear pink. Chances are, I won’t be.

October 22 · 5–6:30 PM
Finley’s Fiction · Southampton
Link in bio.

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I recently hosted a mindful journaling workshop at the elegant @ShouSugiBanHouse, in partnership with @AncientAndBrave and @DrSueSkincare, with proceeds supporting AllSwell’s nonprofit, EndsWell Collective.

The plan was to write outside in the orchard. But wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada had other ideas (the climate crisis is real, ya’ll). So we moved things indoors to the property’s healing barn, gong included. Not a small gong. A gong roughly the size of a Manhattan studio apartment.

Here’s one thing about creative work I’ve learned (repeatedly): it rarely goes according to plan, and the pivot is often where the really juicy stuff is waiting. So we rolled with it. Of course the journaling was still excellent. Maybe better?

Guests were greeted with Cretaninis from Ancient + Brave and snacked on a beautiful selection of light bites from Shou Sugi Ban House’s culinary team. Dr. Sue sent everyone home with some of her skincare, and, of course, guests each got a copy of my book, The Big Unlock: Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling.

Next time you have an unforeseen change of plans, I suggest you write your way through it and see what you can create in the potent space of the unexpected.

In Swellness,
Laura

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I’m bringing The Big Unlock to @theclass NYC on Sunday, May 31st, for a 90-minute session that combines mindful writing with movement, two practices that help us come back to ourselves.

I’ll guide a series of journaling prompts inspired by the book, followed by a class led by @mallorymeeks.

Mallory has a remarkable ability to guide people out of the noise of everyday cognition and back into the body — pairing movement, music, and emotion in a way that feels both grounding and expansive.

I’ve long believed that writing and embodiment belong in conversation with each other. One helps us hear ourselves more clearly; the other helps us process what words alone sometimes can’t reach.

@AllSwellCreative notebooks will be provided, along with treats from @maylindstromskin and @ancientandbrave to take with you. You’ll leave refreshed, inspired, connected. A perfect way to reboot on a Sunday.

If you’re in NYC, I’d love to see you there. Grab your spot at the link in bio.

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Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate International Women’s Day with us at @alc_easthampton.

It was surreal to be reading from my book, The Big Unlock, out loud to a room full of people. Another first. ✔️
It was a delight to be in conversation with the wonderful @clobird of @curiousyellowdesign — two creatives comparing notes on building worlds through different mediums. We spoke about creative process, Gucci wallpaper, the many ways women support and inspire each other’s work — and, of course, the power of putting pen to paper.

I asked the room two questions. (1) Who here has been mentored by a woman? (2) Who among us has mentored a woman or women? The hands raised to each question told a story. Even those attendees who hadn’t been professionally mentored by a female colleague are stepping up and looking out for other women. I hope you can raise your hand to both questions, but particularly the latter. Your efforts will matter more than you could know.

I’m grateful to everyone who joined us and to A.L.C. for hosting such a thoughtful afternoon. And thank you as well for supporting @allagainstabuse, whose work providing safety and resources for women in our community is vitally important. If you visit A.LC. in East Hampton this week please mention the charity. 15% of your spring wardrobe refresh (including sale items) will be donated to the women’s shelter.

All in all, this was a beautiful way to kick off this next chapter as The Big Unlock makes its way into the world. It’s officially out on 3/31, but available for pre-order now and the upcoming book tour events are on the @AllSwellCreative site, linked in bio.

In appreciation,
Laura ✍️

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It's Mai-Tai o'clock on Mo'orea #cocktailhour #dock #bar #frenchpolynesia @tinyatlasquarterly @earthmissions @allswellcreative

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Site visits in Mo'orea are alright #workday #Tahiti pc @twern

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I swear I didn't take a muscle relaxant. Not even a half. 📸@seaandspell

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Sunsets with Sammy // We prefer a high perch #zuma #malibu #sunset #woof

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Find the Laura // Scrambling on boulders in #joshuatree #Sunday #bluesky

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One of my happy places: leading an @allswellcreative journaling workshop. In this case, under a tent in the desert. We dug into the concept of American individualism -- how that may or may not ultimately be a good thing. Regardless it is one of the defining characteristics on which our country was founded. It's really not about answering the question, it's about the process and putting pen to paper as a way of connecting to your own creative voice. Thanks @desertanddenim and @mv_artdept for hosting us 📔✏️ #analog #pentopaper #AllSwell #happyplace

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Dusty boots and dungarees in the desert with @missmichelles at @desertanddenim #pioneertown #westworld #desert #iwastheonlypersonnotwearingahat

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That's me on the right, just hanging out with some new friends. 🐬 // Beauitiful morning on the water with @jobimanson in #Malibu #medicine #blessed beyond reason and still giddy from our #dolphin sesh #HAF

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