A lovely poem I came across through a friend
by Welsh poet William Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
I believe there is a real difference
between resting
and ”resting”.
“Resting”
or as I like to call it,
idleness,
is a condition
in which a person engages in activities
that produce nothing
but taking up time
and refilling that space with emptiness.
These days
a lot of that is done on the phone and the computer.
When I was young
we had neither of those things,
and I’m not sure how I spent idle time.
I remember hiding out in my room,
reading or drawing,
writing stories,
sewing and rearranging my space . . .
for my later childhood
I was fortunate to have my own bedroom.
I’d make things with leaves and stones and seashells
and sometimes
venture out into the world,
to collect things for my creations
or look for creatures to save . . .
a struggling weed,
a worm who was drying out on the pavement,
(don’t laugh),
a blue jay,
a squirrel frozen to the curb,
a rabbit,
a robin . . .
the robin being the only one to survive.
I find that doing things like that
is like rest in a way,
as it is free time
and takes me out of the ‘have to’ world,
and my mind
is fully engaged in whatever it is
I am dabbling in.
And that is what resting is to me.
I realize
as I write this,
that I haven’t ‘rested’
for quite some time
and suddenly long to find that space again.
I always think I will
after I’ve done the tasks required of me,
but never get to it . . .
this is a malady that most of us have had,
an addiction,
almost,
and one that I would like to kick . . .
maybe desperately NEED to kick.
Nothing is stopping me
but me . . .
The best way to incorporate more moments of rest into my daily life is to find a way to live from a place of contentment. If I am grateful I can be content. Gratefulness reminds me that I have enough and that I am enough. Right now I need to lower my intensity (a waste of my energy) as I plan my day. I have so much and there is so much abundance around me in nature. Quieting that “Am I spending my time well enough?” voice and my, “Am I enough?” voice, is the first step. I will tell this harsh questioner within to “Sit down and be quiet.” This makes room for relaxing into contentment and making choices from a place of abundance rather than a place of not having or being enough. I am grateful for my own goodness and my abundant life. I am enough and I have enough. This knowing allows me to relax. So I will have more rest as I relax away from this anxiety.
Wishing joy and contentment to all.
Mary , I relate to everything you said and it is a waste of our energy to over- do things. It’s a habit energy and learning to let it go is an art of peace. Thank you dear.
This response deeply warmed my heart, Carol Ann. Thank you.
PS Did you notice the line from my post where I said that I could tell my harsh questioner to sit down and be quiet? I got that from you, Carol Ann, so thank you!
I just write from my own perspective, answering as honestly as I can. Thank you, Josie, for letting me know that you relate. It helps me to know that others have similar thoughts and experiences.
Rest. Yesterday I had some: rewatched a good movie, listened to the radio.
Today, another day, other challenges. I’m going to try to broaden a relationship with my significant other. I have all kinds of fears about this, that I don’t have time, too busy. But finally I will say it. It’s possible this could bring another type of rest.
I spent the last three days on the road, tending to a grieving, but celebrating family who lost a husband/father and friend/family member. It was invigorating, renewing and exhausting. I officiated the memorial service so there was everything from putting the service together, spending time with the family, figuring out the technology of computers and internet and other technology with which I was not familiar, visiting with life long friends, and driving 8 hours both ways for this whole event. I will spend this weekend resting and recuperating. Knowing when everything else can wait and what my own body and soul needs is the key to living a healthy life of gratitude for me.
May you experience deep satisfaction for all your efforts in supporting the family, friends, as well as the deceased. May you experience deep appreciation for your relationships, and all the love you witnessed and received, Katrina.♥️
I try to take little moments here and there. I try not to fill up every minute with distractions. It’s tempting to reach for the phone, the second I have a minute. It seems like we’re all doing it. I do it way too much. I see it In the waiting room, in line, at restaurants.
I try to catch myself. I tell myself, it’s okay to just sit here. It’s okay to be bored. Sometimes I’ll just come back to awareness of my breath. This always brings me back to the moment.
There’s an ebb and flow to my life. And when things slow down a bit, I try to remind myself to take it easy. To take advantage of that slowness.
I think,
dear Charlie,
that it’s important to distinguish between rest
and idleness,
which is what i think you’re talking about
with people distracting still moments
with phones and thumb twiddling.
Conscious rest,
simply sitting in Presence,
is ‘productive’ rest. ♥
I feel like as of late I have been having too many restful moments! I am in the deep throes of winter, super cold here, & have been hibernating & taking it slow. I am itchy to get going! I do my yoga & exercise practices daily & keep myself busy inside but I am yearning for more. I am not use to being stuck inside because of the weather. I am trying to adjust but….& being in a new place it’s been hard to make new acquaintances so getting out & about is a bit limited. Anyway……
New month tomorrow, new goals & new behaviors. I plan to limit my resting time & get out of my cave more! 🐻
Thanks for reading my post. 🙏🏻
🕊️♥️
I think they call that ‘cabin fever’,
dear PKR . . .
think of you resting time in a winterbound house
as preparation
for new growth,
new experiences ahead.
I too,
am chomping at the bit a little,
trying to get some things done.
that I can’t do
or don’t like doing
when I CAN get out.
The cave does indeed get claustrophobic at times. 🙂
I hear you YRAM. It has been so cold here that I have been unable to take my daily walk so I’ve started walking inside the house, counting my steps. I usually shoot for 200 steps at a time.
Good Saturday greetings to all- though I’ve been awake for about an hour, and loaded the clothes washer, I find I’m sleepy. I’m going to engage in a “radical act,” taking a nap. What’s more radical, I’m not setting an alarm! Restful weekend Blessings to each of you. Am grateful for this program. 🫂☮️🫶🏽
I’m retired. Kids are raised. Grand kids are raised and raising their own children. I can stop. I can lie down and give my body rest but I need to apply more discipline to bring rest to my mind. I need to meditate more. Heaven knows I have the time but I have lacked the discipline to incorporate more pauses for meditation so my mind is seldom at rest. I checked my journals and found I had saved a comment I made to a similar question. I share it because what I wrote is still applicable to me!
Rest, a moment of stillness and calm. I think we all know what it is like when our body needs to stop but it is the mind that is so very hard to still. I am definitely in the winter of my life and I’ve learned much on my journey but must admit that my mind is seldom at rest. I like today’s quote from Richard Rohr, “Prayer is sitting in silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful.” In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, the word prayer is defined as “being open.” I would interpret that as “willingness.” As I have shared here many times before: My job is Willingness. So to truly rest, I have to trust–to be open and willing today and everyday I am given. Today’s question asks “When is the last time I gave myself PERMISSION to truly rest?” Ah, the word PERMISSION reminds me that it begins and ends with nurturing the relationship I have with myself!
Carol Ann , I know what you mean about meditation. Sitting is a radical act of getting to know yourself and to stop avoiding the inevitable.
For the last five years I have been devoted to meditation. I have to say some days many more than five hours a day . What’s been the most beneficial part is seeing the keleshas ( spelling ?) these delusions disappear . What helped me the most is using the group of people who are slo doing this and online – zoom platform after the pandemic has been a lifesaver! I don’t even have to deal with parking ! Also if I wasn’t to join group sessions I can use headphones and do walking meditation! The opportunities are amazing due to this option and I have gone to centres all over the world where people are doing this. Letting go or surrendering their minds . https://onlinemeditationevents.com/locations/
I used to practice alone often especially after yoga teacher training and I even joined places and took deep dives into Buddhist meditation. As Thay would say we need a sangha . I posted the link of the centers and you can always get to try it to see if it helps you develop discipline?
Either way I appreciate how honest you’ve been most people wouldn’t know how their minds are running their life. This too is progress! 💓🌱🙌
Hugs 🤗
Let’s see… maybe when it’s time to rest, I should just rest. No doomscrolling. I’m not really sure if I can do it, but I’ve found that minimizing nighttime screen scrolling by switching to podcasts has improved my sleep quality significantly. Happy weekend, everyone! ☀
After years
of going to sleep to the sound of the television
(my husband suffers tinnitus
and thought the sound of the tv helped block it out),
I’ve suddenly realized,
dear Ngoc,
that I fall to sleep much easier
in a quiet room . . .
no television, no phones.
It might work for you too. ♥
While I appreciate today’s Daily question, for me, I need to do the opposite and incorporate more moments of activity…
I am going to a new Tea Room to celebrate my son’s, gf, birthday – looking forward to a new high tea experience from someplace new.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend with moments of rest (or activity) 🙂
Michele, I like the idea of more activity. I see where you’re going being someone who highly values the natural eb and flows of life. It all eventually circles back to rest. And besides, it’s the weekend.
Reading Katherine May’s quote this morning, I asked myself the same thing. It sounds appealing to me. I do rest when my body suggests that is the next best thing. And I am still amazed at what a short period of rest does for my body. I think there are many ways to
« Rest ». I look forward to hearing what rest looks like in your worlds. ♥️
My life is a lot slower than it used to be, and I really like it. I still have a full schedule of things that I get to do (work, teach, and study), but I generally take time to rest because I know my body – and my mind – needs it. I do try to take a Restorative Yoga class when I can. That offers true rest and healing. There’s something about getting into a room with others and allowing someone to guide you into a few restful poses. I find it easier to let go when I’m sharing that practice with others rather than trying to do it alone in my yoga room at home.
It is snowing this morning – real, fluffy snow! So much better than the icy mix that we got last weekend. And it’s supposed to come down all day❄️ Have a great day, everyone!
I’m sure restorative yoga classes are wonderful. When people come together with the same intention, energies are joined. There is no “us and them” just “we” in that room. It’s a circle of shared energy. Makes me think of that song, “May the Circle be Unbroken.” It’s empowering one and all. I love the symbol of the circle of Life that the native Americans understood so well.
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A lovely poem I came across through a friend
by Welsh poet William Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Beautiful poem, thank you Sparrow.
I call that ‘rest’,
not staring,
don’t you,
dear Drea? ♥
Lovely Sparrow💓🌻 thank you so much for sharing . Sharing is caring like we always said when we were kids. Hugs 🤗
Yes,
it is,dear Antoinette.
I remember. 🙂
I believe there is a real difference
between resting
and ”resting”.
“Resting”
or as I like to call it,
idleness,
is a condition
in which a person engages in activities
that produce nothing
but taking up time
and refilling that space with emptiness.
These days
a lot of that is done on the phone and the computer.
When I was young
we had neither of those things,
and I’m not sure how I spent idle time.
I remember hiding out in my room,
reading or drawing,
writing stories,
sewing and rearranging my space . . .
for my later childhood
I was fortunate to have my own bedroom.
I’d make things with leaves and stones and seashells
and sometimes
venture out into the world,
to collect things for my creations
or look for creatures to save . . .
a struggling weed,
a worm who was drying out on the pavement,
(don’t laugh),
a blue jay,
a squirrel frozen to the curb,
a rabbit,
a robin . . .
the robin being the only one to survive.
I find that doing things like that
is like rest in a way,
as it is free time
and takes me out of the ‘have to’ world,
and my mind
is fully engaged in whatever it is
I am dabbling in.
And that is what resting is to me.
I realize
as I write this,
that I haven’t ‘rested’
for quite some time
and suddenly long to find that space again.
I always think I will
after I’ve done the tasks required of me,
but never get to it . . .
this is a malady that most of us have had,
an addiction,
almost,
and one that I would like to kick . . .
maybe desperately NEED to kick.
Nothing is stopping me
but me . . .
Indeed,
something to think about. ♥
Sparrow, I still take dying worms off the pavement when I’m out for my walks.
Me too
We are not alone then,
dear Deann,
are we? ♥
Me too still a habit from my childhood days . 😉
This is great to know,
dear Antoinette! 🙂
So I ‘m not the only one,
dear Carol Ann . . . 🙂
The best way to incorporate more moments of rest into my daily life is to find a way to live from a place of contentment. If I am grateful I can be content. Gratefulness reminds me that I have enough and that I am enough. Right now I need to lower my intensity (a waste of my energy) as I plan my day. I have so much and there is so much abundance around me in nature. Quieting that “Am I spending my time well enough?” voice and my, “Am I enough?” voice, is the first step. I will tell this harsh questioner within to “Sit down and be quiet.” This makes room for relaxing into contentment and making choices from a place of abundance rather than a place of not having or being enough. I am grateful for my own goodness and my abundant life. I am enough and I have enough. This knowing allows me to relax. So I will have more rest as I relax away from this anxiety.
Wishing joy and contentment to all.
Such a beautiful and helpful perspective, Mary. Thank you.♥️
You are quite welcome, Mary. Coming from a place of abundance makes all the difference for me.
Mary , I relate to everything you said and it is a waste of our energy to over- do things. It’s a habit energy and learning to let it go is an art of peace. Thank you dear.
I related so much to your post today, Antoinette, as well!
Mary, One thing I do know is you have a tremendous amount of compassion for others and I know this because I have been a recipient of your compassion.
This response deeply warmed my heart, Carol Ann. Thank you.
PS Did you notice the line from my post where I said that I could tell my harsh questioner to sit down and be quiet? I got that from you, Carol Ann, so thank you!
Thanks, Mary. I can certainly relate.
I just write from my own perspective, answering as honestly as I can. Thank you, Josie, for letting me know that you relate. It helps me to know that others have similar thoughts and experiences.
Rest. Yesterday I had some: rewatched a good movie, listened to the radio.
Today, another day, other challenges. I’m going to try to broaden a relationship with my significant other. I have all kinds of fears about this, that I don’t have time, too busy. But finally I will say it. It’s possible this could bring another type of rest.
I spent the last three days on the road, tending to a grieving, but celebrating family who lost a husband/father and friend/family member. It was invigorating, renewing and exhausting. I officiated the memorial service so there was everything from putting the service together, spending time with the family, figuring out the technology of computers and internet and other technology with which I was not familiar, visiting with life long friends, and driving 8 hours both ways for this whole event. I will spend this weekend resting and recuperating. Knowing when everything else can wait and what my own body and soul needs is the key to living a healthy life of gratitude for me.
May you experience deep satisfaction for all your efforts in supporting the family, friends, as well as the deceased. May you experience deep appreciation for your relationships, and all the love you witnessed and received, Katrina.♥️
”Knowing when everything else can wait and what my own body and soul needs is the key to living a healthy life of gratitude for me.”
Well said,
dear Katrina . . . ♥
I try to take little moments here and there. I try not to fill up every minute with distractions. It’s tempting to reach for the phone, the second I have a minute. It seems like we’re all doing it. I do it way too much. I see it In the waiting room, in line, at restaurants.
I try to catch myself. I tell myself, it’s okay to just sit here. It’s okay to be bored. Sometimes I’ll just come back to awareness of my breath. This always brings me back to the moment.
There’s an ebb and flow to my life. And when things slow down a bit, I try to remind myself to take it easy. To take advantage of that slowness.
Charlie, I think we all need more stillness in our lives.
I think,
dear Charlie,
that it’s important to distinguish between rest
and idleness,
which is what i think you’re talking about
with people distracting still moments
with phones and thumb twiddling.
Conscious rest,
simply sitting in Presence,
is ‘productive’ rest. ♥
I feel like as of late I have been having too many restful moments! I am in the deep throes of winter, super cold here, & have been hibernating & taking it slow. I am itchy to get going! I do my yoga & exercise practices daily & keep myself busy inside but I am yearning for more. I am not use to being stuck inside because of the weather. I am trying to adjust but….& being in a new place it’s been hard to make new acquaintances so getting out & about is a bit limited. Anyway……
New month tomorrow, new goals & new behaviors. I plan to limit my resting time & get out of my cave more! 🐻
Thanks for reading my post. 🙏🏻
🕊️♥️
I think they call that ‘cabin fever’,
dear PKR . . .
think of you resting time in a winterbound house
as preparation
for new growth,
new experiences ahead.
I too,
am chomping at the bit a little,
trying to get some things done.
that I can’t do
or don’t like doing
when I CAN get out.
The cave does indeed get claustrophobic at times. 🙂
Turn off my phone at the end of the day. I end up scrolling more than I’d like, when I have plenty of good books to read.
Such a worthy goal, Katrina! I too can get caught in that trap.♥️
I have to be aware to move or my body gets stiff. I also have to be aware of multitasking. So finding a balance is challenging.
I hear you YRAM. It has been so cold here that I have been unable to take my daily walk so I’ve started walking inside the house, counting my steps. I usually shoot for 200 steps at a time.
Good Saturday greetings to all- though I’ve been awake for about an hour, and loaded the clothes washer, I find I’m sleepy. I’m going to engage in a “radical act,” taking a nap. What’s more radical, I’m not setting an alarm! Restful weekend Blessings to each of you. Am grateful for this program. 🫂☮️🫶🏽
There’s nothing more radical,
dear Carla,
than a nap in the morning.
Enjoy. 🙂
Damn radical🌞!
I’m retired. Kids are raised. Grand kids are raised and raising their own children. I can stop. I can lie down and give my body rest but I need to apply more discipline to bring rest to my mind. I need to meditate more. Heaven knows I have the time but I have lacked the discipline to incorporate more pauses for meditation so my mind is seldom at rest. I checked my journals and found I had saved a comment I made to a similar question. I share it because what I wrote is still applicable to me!
Rest, a moment of stillness and calm. I think we all know what it is like when our body needs to stop but it is the mind that is so very hard to still. I am definitely in the winter of my life and I’ve learned much on my journey but must admit that my mind is seldom at rest. I like today’s quote from Richard Rohr, “Prayer is sitting in silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful.” In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, the word prayer is defined as “being open.” I would interpret that as “willingness.” As I have shared here many times before: My job is Willingness. So to truly rest, I have to trust–to be open and willing today and everyday I am given. Today’s question asks “When is the last time I gave myself PERMISSION to truly rest?” Ah, the word PERMISSION reminds me that it begins and ends with nurturing the relationship I have with myself!
Carol Ann , I know what you mean about meditation. Sitting is a radical act of getting to know yourself and to stop avoiding the inevitable.
For the last five years I have been devoted to meditation. I have to say some days many more than five hours a day . What’s been the most beneficial part is seeing the keleshas ( spelling ?) these delusions disappear . What helped me the most is using the group of people who are slo doing this and online – zoom platform after the pandemic has been a lifesaver! I don’t even have to deal with parking ! Also if I wasn’t to join group sessions I can use headphones and do walking meditation! The opportunities are amazing due to this option and I have gone to centres all over the world where people are doing this. Letting go or surrendering their minds .
https://onlinemeditationevents.com/locations/
I used to practice alone often especially after yoga teacher training and I even joined places and took deep dives into Buddhist meditation. As Thay would say we need a sangha . I posted the link of the centers and you can always get to try it to see if it helps you develop discipline?
Either way I appreciate how honest you’ve been most people wouldn’t know how their minds are running their life. This too is progress! 💓🌱🙌
Hugs 🤗
You nailed it for me.
Let’s see… maybe when it’s time to rest, I should just rest. No doomscrolling. I’m not really sure if I can do it, but I’ve found that minimizing nighttime screen scrolling by switching to podcasts has improved my sleep quality significantly. Happy weekend, everyone! ☀
After years
of going to sleep to the sound of the television
(my husband suffers tinnitus
and thought the sound of the tv helped block it out),
I’ve suddenly realized,
dear Ngoc,
that I fall to sleep much easier
in a quiet room . . .
no television, no phones.
It might work for you too. ♥
My Ngoc, I’m glad it worked for you. It seemed to me that you were sleeping well last night.
While I appreciate today’s Daily question, for me, I need to do the opposite and incorporate more moments of activity…
I am going to a new Tea Room to celebrate my son’s, gf, birthday – looking forward to a new high tea experience from someplace new.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend with moments of rest (or activity) 🙂
I had High Tea once in my life,
dear Michele . . .
it was quite the unusual experience . . .
I hope you enjoy it with your son
and his girlfriend. ♥
We had a nice time and really enjoyed it – looking forward to going again.
Michele, I like the idea of more activity. I see where you’re going being someone who highly values the natural eb and flows of life. It all eventually circles back to rest. And besides, it’s the weekend.
Thank you Loc.
Michele, enjoy this lovely outing. ☺️
Thank you – we had a wonderful time, will be going back again when my daughter comes down to visit.
Reading Katherine May’s quote this morning, I asked myself the same thing. It sounds appealing to me. I do rest when my body suggests that is the next best thing. And I am still amazed at what a short period of rest does for my body. I think there are many ways to
« Rest ». I look forward to hearing what rest looks like in your worlds. ♥️
My life is a lot slower than it used to be, and I really like it. I still have a full schedule of things that I get to do (work, teach, and study), but I generally take time to rest because I know my body – and my mind – needs it. I do try to take a Restorative Yoga class when I can. That offers true rest and healing. There’s something about getting into a room with others and allowing someone to guide you into a few restful poses. I find it easier to let go when I’m sharing that practice with others rather than trying to do it alone in my yoga room at home.
It is snowing this morning – real, fluffy snow! So much better than the icy mix that we got last weekend. And it’s supposed to come down all day❄️ Have a great day, everyone!
I’m sure restorative yoga classes are wonderful. When people come together with the same intention, energies are joined. There is no “us and them” just “we” in that room. It’s a circle of shared energy. Makes me think of that song, “May the Circle be Unbroken.” It’s empowering one and all. I love the symbol of the circle of Life that the native Americans understood so well.