Webster's Dictionary defines rest as; 1a: to get rest by lying down especially: SLEEP
b: to lie dead
2: to cease from action or motion: refrain from labor or exertion
3: to be free from anxiety or disturbance. The word rest has been floating in my mind quite a bit these days. Me, myself, and I ask what resting means to me. I could rattle off many answers to that question; however, the one prominent answer seems to slow down.
As many of you know, generally, I wouldn't say I like to rest or slow down. However, working as a housekeeper at the hospital, I find it vital to recuperating from the job and overall life. So, this past June, I took a week's vacation to my happy place. As a result, I can say my body and mind weren't tense.
During this vacation, I had a few friends join me. We had no set schedule. Being type A would usually irritate me, yet it didn't. Instead, it was the opposite reaction. I was zen. I felt calm and at peace. Did I want to come back? No, was I able to incorporate what I learned from my vacation? Yes.
These are some things vacation manifested to me. One, I enhanced my cooking ability. My friend and I made a meal together using an ingredient I always wanted to try. Though our feed had a schedule, it didn't feel like one. We were two cooks just talking about how this ingredient makes the dishes better or enriches the flavor.
Two, not having a strict timeline on the day's activities made it more enjoyable. We slept in late. Time wasn't determining or dictating life. Time was our friend rather than the enemy. So our day got filled with meaningful conversations and exercise.
Three is tremendous power laying down to sleep, whether on a bed or outside on a folding chair with the ocean as your view. You allow yourself to be still. I learned that to accomplish this, one has to start from the head and enable yourself to have that feeling go all the way to your toes. It didn't matter what time of day, but when sleep or tiredness became, I heeded and slept.
Fourth, I was free from having any anxiety or disturbance that drew negative thoughts or feelings. I wasn't thinking much about work. I tuned out of what was happening on the news. I allowed myself to be. What did that mean for me to be? It meant that I didn't have any expectations from others of how I should conduct myself. As negativity crept in, banished by a more positive and uplifting thought or task.
Another area that rest has been beneficial is in regards to social media. Oh, how I need to unplug more. By clearing allows you to reevaluate yourself. What could I be doing besides wasting away on Facebook, Instagram, and or the news? Social Media is a double-edged sword at times; it's for good in connecting with friends( ex puzzle family), while other times, you can sit and scroll away rather than having a good night's sleep. I would put Amazon in as Social Media as well.
This pandemic and epidemic, for sure, has turned us into buying more than we should. But, unfortunately, we clarify this as a copping tool for avoiding reality. I know I'm guilty of this. Puzzles are my Achilles heel. Do I need more puzzles? No, but do I want them? Yes. How does one regulate themselves? I can't answer. My collection keeps piling up.
When we are in a state of rest, or zen, I conclude that we discover enlightenment in ourselves. Therefore, let us allow ourselves the time of zen. However, you and I are the masters of our fate. Consequently, it is up to us to determine how we use our zen of rest.
