The epidemic of busy-ness abounds. Rest and relaxation are essential to self-care. How often we forget about the need to rest….to renew….to rejuvenate. We think relaxing is indulgent. Then when we finally accept that rest is a good idea, we put parameters on it. We think we need to rest for a little bit but only AFTER we do all of our needed chores. Or, we rest but only for so long, say, 15 or 20 minutes.
Our bodies need rest. Regularly! If you are tired, rest. If you are sick, rest. If it is time, rest.
There’s a great quote from a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier, about not quitting. He says, “Rest if you must, but don’t you quit!” Two main things to notice here:
- Rest if you must. I want to tell you that you must!
- Resting is not quitting! Resting is resting!
Now, as for how much rest you need….the answer is ENOUGH! Take a day or a weekend or a week, and rest. Take a month…..take a year or two. Whatever is needed for you….to get enough!
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