Episode Title
Midweek Pause for Peace: "Detached From Outcome" by James Crews
Episode Description
Join Laura Davis for another nurturing episode of Midweek Pause for Peace, where she pairs images from nature with poetry to offer moments of restoration for both heart and nervous system.
This week, Laura features a beautifully contemplative poem by James Crews that explores the profound wisdom of acting without attachment to results. "Detached From Outcome" uses the metaphor of planting a tree you may never see mature to illuminate how we can find peace and purpose in the doing itself, rather than in guaranteed outcomes.
Featured Poem
"Detached From Outcome" by James Crews
Key Themes Explored
Mindful action without attachment to results
Finding meaning in the process rather than outcomes
The wisdom of planting seeds for future generations
Silencing the inner critic that demands certainty
Living authentically and doing what makes you feel alive
The patience required for long-term thinking
Environmental stewardship and legacy
Letting go of control while maintaining purpose
About the Poet
James Crews is a celebrated contemporary poet and anthologist whose work focuses on kindness, connection, and mindful living. His impressive body of work includes:
Bestselling Anthologies:
The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy
How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope (over 100,000 copies in print)
Poetry Collections:
The Book of What Stays
Telling My Father
Bluebird
Every Waking Moment
Essays:
Kindness Will Save the World: Stories of Compassion and Connection
Crews has been featured in major publications including The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, The Christian Science Monitor, and on NPR's Morning Edition. He speaks and leads workshops on kindness, mindfulness, and writing for self-compassion from his home on forty rocky acres in the woods of Southern Vermont, where he lives with his husband.
You can find his work at: https://www.jamescrews.net/ and read him on Substack: https://jamescrews.substack.com/
Episode Highlights
Laura's reflection on the challenge of acting without knowing outcomes
How nature teaches us about patience and long-term thinking
The freedom that comes from detaching from results
Finding peace in uncertainty and impermanence
The metaphor of tree planting as a spiritual practice
Silencing the "what if" voices that paralyze action
Perfect For
Those struggling with perfectionism and need for control
People interested in mindfulness and present-moment awareness
Readers drawn to environmental and nature poetry
Anyone seeking wisdom about purposeful action
Those exploring Buddhist concepts of non-attachment
People interested in legacy and generational thinking
Mindfulness Connection
This poem beautifully illustrates core mindfulness principles—being present, accepting uncertainty, and finding peace in the process rather than demanding specific outcomes. It offers a gentle guide for living with greater ease and authenticity.
About Midweek Pause for Peace
Midweek Pause for Peace is Laura Davis's regular series designed to provide listeners with a moment of calm and reflection in the middle of busy weeks. Each episode combines the healing power of nature imagery with carefully selected poetry, creating space for both emotional processing and nervous system regulation.
You can subscribe here: https://laurasaridavis.substack.com
Subscribe to The Writer's Journey with Laura Davis on Substack to receive beautifully curated poems, essays about life and writing, writing tips, and photographs to build courage, resilience and creativity.
You can find information about Laura’s writing classes, workshops, and international retreats at: https://lauradavis.net/
