The fourth of Frank Ostaseski’s invitations that death offers us in our current lives, is to REST. This notion goes counter to everything we’ve been taught and everything our current culture seems to value. I was at a retreat this summer that encouraged us to rest as much as possible. Many of us found that idea to be difficult to embrace. There is always so much I want to do, could do, should do. That will be forever true. But it is a radical notion to realize that we don’t necessarily benefit by always chasing that next rabbit. At that retreat, I experimented with taking a blanket out on the grass and napping or at least just lying still for a period of time every afternoon. I was astonished at how nourishing it felt to do that – but must admit that I have not continued the practice in my “regular” life. What an injunction we seem to have against resting. But I sincerely believe that somehow a portal opens for us when we can dare to slow down.
There is a currently popular book, “Rest as Resistance; A Manifesto” by Tricia Hersey. In it she encourages us to connect to the liberating power of rest, daydreaming, and naps as a foundation for healing and justice. She talks a bit about how slaves had no opportunity to rest so they resisted by “leaning on their hoes”. Today’s employees sometimes organize a work slowdown in the same fashion. Creative ways of finding rest in a culture that somehow doesn’t allow for such a thing.
At the workshop with Ostaseski, a young parent raised his hand and said that he was bone tired from the task of parenting toddlers but that there was realistically no way to “take a nap”. Ostaseski replied that most of us don’t have blatant opportunities to physically rest but that we must learn to somehow remain restful in the midst of a busy outer life. It is such a challenge.
I offer you here a warm blanket to swaddle you back to your deepest self. Rest easy friends.
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