‘Why is it that I resist rest so much?’ I asked myself one gloriously Sunny Saturday. 

I had promised myself a day of no planning, no lists, no doing, just being.

So, of to a promising start by day began with deliberate slowness over an acai bowl that took ages to prepare. As I settled into a morning in the garden, everything was at arm’s reach. Right there, right at hand.

After a very brief interlude of peace, it began. The flurry, the hurry, the thoughts arriving one after the other like a dishevelled passenger.

My racing mind starting to list all the things I could be doing. The book manuscript I could be editing, the next retreat I could be planning, working through unread messages, the garden wall that suddenly needed an urgent coat of paint. 

My inner critic, starting the inspection of my now mid forty’s body. The critical eye of the curves and the shapes that absolutely did not need fixing. 

Even the clouds began to form like a mental soundtrack. Each one playing out an imaginary, never ending to-do list on a limitless scroll.

And there, I caught myself. I remembered.

This is REST!

This is what my body, and my mind have been craving.

How important it is that we listen to our bodies at a whisper. Not when they feel the need to shout at us to get our attention. 

So why I wondered do we resist Rest?

Maybe, I thought it is the voice of the “doing” part of ourselves that

Actually needs gentleness, not scolding.

Speaking kindly to that part of us that is always on the go.

Offering that part of ourselves compassion, and reminding it its Okay. Your safe to rest now. 

Welcome Home, rest a while.