<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></title><description><![CDATA[I am a writer and functional breathing specialist exploring creativity, presence, and the quiet tools that help us write and live more fully. I offer essays, workshops, and one-on-one support for storytellers.]]></description><link>https://www.ruthstender.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!VOoI!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fbb8ae1d0-c9d3-44e3-9d68-1fa887814391_1024x1024.jpeg</url><title>Ruth Stender</title><link>https://www.ruthstender.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:02:44 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.ruthstender.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[ruthstender@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[ruthstender@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[ruthstender@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[ruthstender@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Truth Sender]]></title><description><![CDATA[Honest. Done. Write.]]></description><link>https://www.ruthstender.com/p/truth-sender</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.ruthstender.com/p/truth-sender</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Ruth Stender]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2026 19:07:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xQQU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3635f4e3-0f96-464c-8bf8-385fcce8c6f3_1080x785.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!xQQU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3635f4e3-0f96-464c-8bf8-385fcce8c6f3_1080x785.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Hello, and welcome.</p><p>If you found this page by searching my name, you&#8217;ll notice things look different. I&#8217;ve intentionally stepped away from my old website. At the end of last year, I chose not to renew the lease on my wellness space. With that closing, I also stepped away from teaching group yoga, meditation classes, and energy medicine. It has been a real shift but one that feels right.</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.ruthstender.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>My focus is being pulled back to writing&#8212;for myself and for others. I still occasionally offer one-on-one wellness sessions, with an emphasis on functional breathing and, for those who want it, building a meditation practice.</p><p>My previous site was designed to hold all my different interests and modalities. Now I&#8217;m going minimalist so I can finish two long-standing book projects:</p><p>- A memoir that is &#8220;complete&#8221; but that I&#8217;m now revising into the speculative-memoir category. This lets me tell more truths without exposing people I love. I&#8217;ll write more about that decision in a future post&#8212;important territory for anyone writing memoir.</p><p>- A hybrid book that blends personal-development strategies with memoir-ish material. It&#8217;s been in the works (mostly off) for maybe three decades, yet it still feels important.</p><p>So, my plan is simple: post excerpts from both manuscripts alongside essays and reflections. That&#8217;s why I created this Substack, Truth Sender: Honest. Done. Write.</p><p>When I was naming this space I wanted to play with my own name, but the title also names the exact purpose. Across every chapter of my life I&#8217;ve carried one unshakeable thread: personal growth depends on radical honesty.</p><p>Here&#8217;s the catch. Radical honesty means speaking the truth even when that truth exposes our shameful behaviors or deepest ignorance. For a large part of my life, learning to embrace my own ignorance has been a central theme. Society tells us to pretend we have it all figured out. I&#8217;ve learned&#8212;often the hard way&#8212;that hiding what you don&#8217;t know is heavy, exhausting armor. True liberation comes when you can look at your life and say, &#8220;I don&#8217;t know, but I&#8217;m ready to learn.&#8221; Admitting your ignorance doesn&#8217;t make you small; it makes you empty enough to be filled with something genuine. That&#8217;s how telling the truth sets you free.</p><p>Moving forward, I&#8217;ll use this space for essays and reflections on navigating life&#8217;s complex transitions with an open heart. I&#8217;ll also share occasional updates about one-on-one availability, group classes, and retreats.</p><p>Thank you for pulling up a chair. If you&#8217;d like to join me on this journey toward living a bit more truly and freely, leave your email below to subscribe.</p><p>No distractions. Just honest words, done right.</p><p>With gratitude,</p><p>~Ruth</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.ruthstender.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>