Pack Your Bags
Me: I don’t feel like doing anything.
Her: Then do nothing.
Me (thinking): Ugh! I think I’ve forgotten how!
30 minutes later…
Her: Pack your bags. You’ll be staying at a hotel for a few nights. I’ll be done by 6:30 and can drop you off. There’s plenty of restaurants nearby.
Me: What in the world! WHY? I know you’re stressed too. I don’t need to go.
Her: It’s already booked.
Me: I don’t even know what to take. I mean… Umm…
Her: Do you want me to help you?
Me: Umm… No. I guess I’ve got it. But what will you eat? I took food out. Do you want me to cook something?
Her: No. I want you to pack. I want you to take a break. I want you to REST.
REST.
Have you ever found yourself thinking about rest as though it were some far-fetched thing, a mythical creature — spoken of but never seen? You know, like a Yeti.
Well, that is what REST has come to be for me. Unfortunately, it happened without me even realizing it.
I was movin’ and groovin’ through my days — taking calls, making dinner, paying bills. I was doing all the things responsible adults do. But my brain felt…TIRED.
I still laughed. I still joked. I still ____ (fill in the blank).
I was doing all things. All things but FULLY giving myself permission to REST.
I pushed myself because I thought that’s what made sense, losing sight of what I KNEW was the truth.
I didn’t have to push. I didn’t have to honor the expectations of others. I didn’t have to do anything but BE.
And yes, I know the idea of just BE-ing can feel lazy or irresponsible, but it is in our BE-ing that life, healing and growth THRIVE. It is in our BE-ing that we are able to see and hear clearly, to reset our internal compass in ways that keep us aligned with our authentic path.
And so for two-ish days I rested.
I did not rise at 5:00 am because I needed to get to the grind. I rose when my body said, “Hey girl! I’m ready.”
I strolled into and out of stores aimlessly, grateful for the feet and legs that carried me with ease.
I ate slowly, mindfully, allowing the flavors of each bite to come alive in my mouth, sending messages of joy to my tummy.
You see, REST is not just about closing your eyes for a delicious nap or laying down for a quiet night of slumber (and those things are amazing).
REST, to me, is about giving ourselves permission to honor who and where we are, to lean into an ease that then allows us to be both connected to self and healthily productive.
REST does not have to be a night away. It simply has to be time WITH…YOU.
