Rest and Recharge

I’m coming off a busy, high-energy week and weekend, and instead of forcing myself to keep going, I’m being gentle and doing the bare minimum. I can think of no more fitting post than this one from August 2020. Enjoy.

When I thought about what to write today, the answer that came to me was, “Take a break.” I think it’s both a missive and a message, meaning I need to take a break, but also other people need to take one too. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for myself, I notice right now with so many things happening in the world, so many issues vying for my attention, it feels irresponsible to take a break. That instead, I must fire on all cylinders all day, every day. I think it’s in part because there’s pressure in the external world, but also in part because it’s how I’m made.

I am a fire sign. Not just astrologically (I’m a Sagittarius), but also my ayurvedic dosha is pitta. I want to “do” all the time. Resting is the complete antithesis of my natural tendencies, but it has become clear to me that resting is of the utmost importance.

Back in 2013, I read Christine Arylo’s Madly in Love with ME, and she advised putting a hand on your heart every morning and asking, “What do I need today?” or “What do I need to receive today?” Today, anyway, the answer is “rest and recharge.” She also advises conducting an energy check-in to gauge how full your energy tank is. My energy level today is a 10. Christine says don’t give of yourself unless your energy tank is at 75-100.

I’ve gotten better at it over the years, but there’s still a part of me that pushes myself to do everything, anything. As soon as my energy tank gets even a little fuller, I empty it completely. But that’s not sustainable. I need to shore up my energy, allow myself time to rest, and to say no to things that drain me. It’s incredibly difficult for me to cocoon, to withdraw my energy from the world, to concentrate on me and only me. It feels wrong and selfish and uncomfortable.

I’m sure there are other people out there like me who are running themselves ragged. Not only is there pressure to do daily life things, but also to get out in the world, to make it a better place, to show up, to give. That’s real, but what’s also real is that regardless of what’s happening in the world, we deserve to rest because we are not machines (and even machines aren’t running all the time). We deserve to receive as much as we give. We deserve to take time out. We deserve to rest and recharge because that’s ultimately what serves ourselves and the people around us.

I dream of a world where we all take a break when we need it. A world where we balance giving and receiving. A world where we love ourselves so much that we treat ourselves with care. A world where we know we all deserve to rest and recharge from time to time.

Another world is not only possible, it’s probable.