"His voice and lilt, they carried me off, in dreams that coiled like snakes, and squeezed me from this mortal toil to swim the night ‘til the dreamer wakes." - from "To See Without Eyes" - S.R.
Such beautiful, inspiring words! Yes, rest is never a waste! These days I'd love to just sit at my window, or under the porch, if it's not too cold, and contemplate the charming looks of the changing season, lose myself in a book, or creating the magic of my own writing like a never-ending tapestry.
That sounds SO lovely. I can imagine resting in Italy is even itself an entirely different experience than here in the U.S. It's a curious thing to consider.
Your dream world is beautiful! A double-edged sword, I find sleep is sometimes where I work through feelings I’ve stuffed away in the day time, which can be hard but rewarding. But it can also be where my OCD takes advantage of my guard being down as well.
I definitely understand that, Grace. Although I've never had an official diagnosis of OCD, from my research and the various talks I've listened to from trained therapists, it seems to overlap with anxiety disorders quite a bit (never conflating the two, of course). So, although I can't "know" fully your experience, I understand. Many nights beautiful dreams lead to nightmares. Or just nightmares overall. Recently I have had disturbing sensations while sleeping. All of which lead to wakefulness, and hours spent trying to find peace or balance again. A double-edged sword indeed. As a practice, for myself, I try to take everything as something that can inform my writing, if nothing else can be gleaned. Big hugs, always.
Sorry that I mean I’m trying to work with the idea that it’s not self-indulgent to take care of yourself but you get this programming your whole life that it is, so it’s hard to fight against it but I know it’s important.
I got so much from this essay. I felt like I read it at the right time. I really struggle a lot with trying to give myself breaks or rest because ever since going from a normal income to freelancer income from job loss, I’m one of those people who is in a constant scarcity mindset and burnt out beyond all recognition. And I’m trying to work with this idea that it is somehow self-indulgent to take care of myself. I’m getting better at it but reading pieces like this really helps me so thank you. you just write so beautifully. and I also wanted to say that you’ve referenced mindfulness and such and congratulations for having spent so much time and effort on that. Chronic pain is no joke chronic illness is no joke and the people who are doing that kind of mental training are warriors.
What a beautiful newsletter! We definitely need to take more time for ourselves, which I have been doing since my dental surgery. I just don't have the energy for much, as I have been needing it to heal and to keep myself relaxed. It's been nice to take time for myself. Thanks for the reminder and take care, I hope you feel better and I look forward to the next newsletter!
Always calming to my mind to read your thoughts. I appreciate your words very much as a balm to my soul in this wearying world.
Thank you.
Thank you as always, Carolyn!
Yes, rest is resistance. It takes great power to be the seeing eye when all the world is a storm.
such beautiful words! Thank you!
Thank YOU, Elaine!
Such beautiful, inspiring words! Yes, rest is never a waste! These days I'd love to just sit at my window, or under the porch, if it's not too cold, and contemplate the charming looks of the changing season, lose myself in a book, or creating the magic of my own writing like a never-ending tapestry.
That sounds SO lovely. I can imagine resting in Italy is even itself an entirely different experience than here in the U.S. It's a curious thing to consider.
Your dream world is beautiful! A double-edged sword, I find sleep is sometimes where I work through feelings I’ve stuffed away in the day time, which can be hard but rewarding. But it can also be where my OCD takes advantage of my guard being down as well.
I definitely understand that, Grace. Although I've never had an official diagnosis of OCD, from my research and the various talks I've listened to from trained therapists, it seems to overlap with anxiety disorders quite a bit (never conflating the two, of course). So, although I can't "know" fully your experience, I understand. Many nights beautiful dreams lead to nightmares. Or just nightmares overall. Recently I have had disturbing sensations while sleeping. All of which lead to wakefulness, and hours spent trying to find peace or balance again. A double-edged sword indeed. As a practice, for myself, I try to take everything as something that can inform my writing, if nothing else can be gleaned. Big hugs, always.
Sorry that I mean I’m trying to work with the idea that it’s not self-indulgent to take care of yourself but you get this programming your whole life that it is, so it’s hard to fight against it but I know it’s important.
I got so much from this essay. I felt like I read it at the right time. I really struggle a lot with trying to give myself breaks or rest because ever since going from a normal income to freelancer income from job loss, I’m one of those people who is in a constant scarcity mindset and burnt out beyond all recognition. And I’m trying to work with this idea that it is somehow self-indulgent to take care of myself. I’m getting better at it but reading pieces like this really helps me so thank you. you just write so beautifully. and I also wanted to say that you’ve referenced mindfulness and such and congratulations for having spent so much time and effort on that. Chronic pain is no joke chronic illness is no joke and the people who are doing that kind of mental training are warriors.
What a beautiful newsletter! We definitely need to take more time for ourselves, which I have been doing since my dental surgery. I just don't have the energy for much, as I have been needing it to heal and to keep myself relaxed. It's been nice to take time for myself. Thanks for the reminder and take care, I hope you feel better and I look forward to the next newsletter!