One day, I may write about Donald Sterling and all the hoopla surrounding the Clippers and the words Donald Sterling said, but this is not that day. I’m one day back from Maui, and my mind is not yet ready for Don and his silliness. Oh, I’ve been thinking about it, and H and I have talked about it. But, this would not be a good time for me to share those thoughts with you.
Grateful, aren’t you?
Today, what I want to tell you is nothing new. In fact, I just said it last week. I want to tell you to get some rest. I want to hold your gaze for more than ten seconds, while you’re racing off to the next thing, or trying to multitask, or wondering why you keep getting knots in your shoulders or a pit in your stomach. I want to be emphatic, even though being emphatic about rest seems like an oxymoron.
You don’t have to go to Maui, though that would be nice, wouldn’t it? Let me tell you something. Let me tell you that rest is your heart’s true home. But, where to begin? Well, here’s a place to start. Just pick one:
- Lower your shoulders.
- Unclench your jaw.
- Take a deep breath.
- Look at something beautiful.
- Turn off one thing that makes noise—the television, the radio, the smartphone that dings and rattles…
- Light a candle.
- Rub lotion on your hands.
- Pet your dog.
- Wiggle your toes.
- Let a morsel of chocolate melt on your tongue.
- Write a sentence.
- Lean back in your chair.
- Hum your favorite song.
It’s a start, yes? And you may have more ideas of simple and free ways to rest. How do you do it? How do you make space for rest in the place where you are? Will you share with us, in the comments? Why does rest matter to you?
PS: Congratulations to Amy Krance-Wendt and Bridget Kramer, who each won a copy of Praying for Your Husband From Head to Toe, by Sharon Jaynes! These two ladies happen to be from Nebraska (I promise, I did not rig the drawing), and I may just have to make a coffee date with them, and give them their books in person!