December Is a Time for Rest

I want to encourage you again to take rest when you need it. I struggle with this too- I often write about stuff I need!

I came home after being gone for ten days to visit family and spend a little time by the beach with a mile long to-do list.

To my own chagrin, I found myself fighting off a virus, and having very little energy. I needed to surrender and REST.

Why is resting SO hard?

Some of these concepts come from Tricia Hersey’s book, Rest is Resistance. She essentially says rest is subversive because:

• We must have faith that God/spirit is working for us, and that things are moving forward without our will; we have to let go of the illusion that we are in control

• It's a rejection of grind culture-- which says our value comes from being productive and pushing through

• We were not taught how to rest

• Rest is not earned, it is part of our birthright

Posing with the famous flamingo at Tampa airport on my way home. Photo by Ron Kapioski

One of the Ayurveda pillars of health is all about the wise use of energy, and supports us finding adequate rest.

In fact, since Ayurveda teaches aligning with the seasons, the end of the year and into deep winter IS a time for more rest (think about hibernating animals).

As usual, these thousands of years old teachings stand the test of time.

Remember, rest can be simple. It can be finding five minutes in between things to breathe deeply. But we’ve got to slow down enough to remind ourselves.