I'm declaring this week a rest retreat. I'm not sure what that's going to look like, but I'm at the next step in my lymphadema treatment and it's tiring and I need extra rest. I figure my options are to be upset about it or accept it and make it holy. (Is not rest always holy?)
I'm not entirely sure what that will look like but I have some ideas:
- acknowledge and drop thoughts rooted in the heresies of the the prosperity gospel, hustle culture, the Protestant work ethic, capitalism, and using productivity as a measure of value or worthiness.
- lower my expectations for doing anything.
- get plenty of rest.
- stop or skip unnecessary things that are feeling like too much.
- read more of Rest Is Resistance as long as it feels enjoyable and not like a chore.
- fun reading.
- knitting (always!)
- naps
- possibly get food or grocery delivery (this is complicated by the fact that most of the places I like don't deliver here.)
- breathing exercises
- written commentary and reflection if it feels right.
Note that this does not include obligations, check offs, or requirements. There is no failure, only progress toward rest.
Also, I'd like to include some lectio devina type reading (not necessarily of scripture) but I find it stressful to manage the time keeping parts and keep track of what I am supposed to be doing when I do it on my own. I might look for some apps or ways to use Alexa routines to manage this.
