Rhythm...

 

 ...In the relentless busyness of modern life, we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.

All life requires a rhythm of rest. There is rhythm in our waking activity and the body's need for sleep. There is a rhythm in the way day dissolves into night, and night into morning. there is a rhythm as the active growth of spring and summer is quieted by the necessary dormancy of fall and winter. There is a tidal rhythm, a deep eternal conversation between the land and the great sea. In our bodies, the heart perceptibly rests after each life-giving beat; the lungs rest between the exhale and the inhale.

excerpt from the book: Sabbath - Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest 

By: Wayne Muller

No Where...

Today was a day of rest for me. I did somethings around the house but mostly just did things I enjoyed. I read my book, I worked on my art journal, I slept in late, I worked on my health food blog, and most of all I went no where. That was the greatest thing of all!!!!

Shelter...

"Come in," she said. "I'll give you shelter from the storm."

Some-days this would be so nice to hear. I guess that's why I like my home so much. It is my shelter from the storm. A place I can find refuge and comfort even if I don't have that "someone" to offer that to me. It gets hard at times being everything for everyone, including myself. I just want to be able to rest and rely on another for awhile. Oh that sounds so nice... maybe someday!

My Body...

My body is telling me to slow down. I'm not feeling good and even though I have to work today, there are things I can do to take care of myself. I'm taking herbs, vitamins and teas to boost what my body is lacking. And I will rest as much as I can when I get home and on the days following when it's possible.  When my body speaks I'm learning to listen.

Soft...

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

Kurk Vonnegut

I need to remember today that my past experience don't define my present moment. I can be "soft" in this world and know that I am okay, because I am loved and am capable of loving. The world is a beautiful place!

Shoulder...

Somedays you just need a shoulder to rest on... today is one of those days!

Rest...

Today's day of rest was not planned, it was just necessary! My body woke up and needed the down time and I am grateful I did not HAVE to do anything so I could listen and allow my body what it desperately wanted. There are always a million and one things I have on my list but today they would just have to wait until tomorrow. 

Still resting...

Yes, today I am still trying to rest. You see I used the word "trying". It is something I want to become more comfortable with - resting when my body speaks. I not only want to hear what my heart is speaking but I want to listen to my body too. I am working on living a more conscious life, which for me means listening more deeply to myself, eating more consciously, leading me to a more plant based diet and making more conscious choices with everything I do. For me it's not something I have been able to just decide and then it always feels that way, it seems it's an awareness I need to wake up with each day and then in that present moment I can make a conscious choice over and over again in each moment . Today I am choosing to rest because my body speaks...

Rest...

I feel like I'm coming down with a cold and I'm doing everything I know to do to help prevent it or cut it short - EXCEPT rest! That is SO hard for me. My to-do list is endless and it's hard to not use every moment I have available to tackle something on my list. But I KNOW that rest is one of the most important things I can do. And I have to believe that what doesn't get done, there will be time or a realization that it's just not that important. So I am granting myself permission to rest not only my body but my mind too. It is not very restful if my mind does not stop it's constant swirling. I will practice staying in the present moment and finding rest.