Updated April 11, 2025
This beautiful poem came my way in the early '90s from a dear friend during a time of heartbreak. Since then, it has remained close to my heart, offering me quiet wisdom and comfort through the years.
The poem emphasizes that love is not about possession or superficial measures of security but about understanding, acceptance, and personal growth.
I still have an original copy from a Dear Abby newspaper clipping copyrighted in 1987. The author is Joy Whitman.
I’ve read it countless times over the years, often as part of reflections at the end of yoga class during savasana or yoga nidra.
May it bring you the same sense of peace and serenity it continues to offer me.
If this poem resonates with you, I’d love to hear how it speaks to your heart.
Comes the Dawn
by Joy Whitman 1987
After a while, you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and sharing a life
and you learn that love doesn't mean possession
and company doesn't mean security
and loneliness is universal
And you learn that kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises
and you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes open
with the grace of a woman
not the grief of a child
And you learn to build your hope on today
as the future has a way of falling apart in mid-flight
because tomorrow`s ground can be too uncertain for plans
yet each step taken in a new direction creates a path
toward the promise of a brighter dawn
And you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much
so you plant your own garden
and nourish your own soul
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers
And you learn that love, true love
always has joys and sorrows
seems ever present, yet is never quite the same
becoming more than love and less than love
so difficult to define
And you learn that through it all
you really can endure
that you really are strong
that you do have value
and you learn and grow
with every goodbye
you learn
My Story | Balance with Adrianne
I used to struggle with anxiety and stress and feel overwhelmed with emotional healing. Yoga became my starting point—a place where I could slow down, breathe, and begin listening to my body again.
As my practice deepened, I realized that true well-being didn’t end when I stepped off the mat. It extended into everything I was putting in and around my body.
I began to notice how many everyday products—food, beauty items, and household cleaners—were filled with harmful chemicals. Over time, they quietly disrupted my energy, mood, and overall sense of balance, even though I didn’t fully understand it at first.
A meaningful shift came when a dear friend introduced me to a simpler, more compassionate way of understanding struggle. Instead of pushing or fixing, I learned to support my nervous system, reduce overwhelm, and create space for healing to unfold naturally.
Today, through Balance with Adrianne, I guide women who long to live more naturally and intentionally. I support them in releasing burnout, reducing toxic load, and realigning with what truly matters.
Through personal yoga, mindset mentoring, and heart-centered rituals, I help women return to balance in body, mind, and energy—naturally and sustainably.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to connect. You’re welcome to book a Complimentary 30-minute Clarity Call to explore how personalized yoga, meditation, and holistic support can meet you exactly where you are.
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