When Nature Answers
+ Books for Expert Permission to Rest
A pileated woodpecker appeared outside my window on Tuesday afternoon, his crown defiantly bright against the white-grey, pre-snow sky. He was using his expertly designed beak to peck deep into the bark of the elder pecan tree just outside my window – a tree that makes it to my gratitude lists more often than not when I feel the need to count my blessings.
I hadn't slept well the night before. By Monday night, the heaviness of feeling too "fumbly" to match all that was going wrong, all that needed fixing, all that disturbed and enraged me had gotten the better of me. By Tuesday afternoon, with the kids home for a potential snow day, I had a little extra time from not doing school runs to take a nap. Right before finally drifting off, I asked for some guidance. I do that sometimes. When I can't think my way to an answer, I sleep on the question.
I woke to the insistent thud of beak hitting bark outside my window. At that moment, the first flakes of a rare powdery snow started to fall which is novel enough here in Georgia to feel magical.
This is always how nature answers my soul-sick questions. Never with direct advice, although, universe, please know I’m more than open to that. But, typically, instead of a clear plan, nature provides a feeling of solace, peace, and enchantment, without the need for certainty. And really, isn't that what I'm looking for in a good answer anyway?
There was some kind of truth in a determined, brazenly beautiful bird taking only what they needed from a pecan tree generously and powerfully teeming with life inside, even while the ground was frozen around her.
BUT, if you're looking for answers of the more soundly researched and practical type, here are some book recommendations to shore up your resolve to prioritize rest as an essential practice for meaningful productivity and power.
Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey
"Loving ourselves and each other deepens our disruption of the dominant systems. They want us unwell, fearful, exhausted, and without deep self-love because you are easier to manipulate when you are distracted by what is not real or true"
Laziness Does not Exist by Devon Price
"The Laziness Lie has three main tenets. They are: Your worth is your productivity. You cannot trust your own feelings and limits. There is always more you could be doing."
Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith
"It takes courage to rest in the midst of an outcome-driven society. It takes strength to walk away from good in the pursuit of better."
"I’ve also come to see our respect for overwork as, perhaps a bit paradoxically, intellectually lazy. Measuring time is literally the easiest way to assess someone’s dedication and productivity, but it’s also very unreliable."
May you have a weekend of reading or resting (or both if you're me)! With love,
Tricia