What Is True Rest For You?

Yesterday on Jennifer Louden's blog she asked:

What is True Rest for You?

How do you unplug your body and really rest (think eye bag and ear plugs)?
How much rest do you need, even if you've never gotten it?

Great questions! Here's my reply which I posted as a comment:

Mmmmmm, for me true rest is:

* Lying in bed wrapped in warm covers imagining myself held by Spirit. I call it snuggle time with God.

* Remembering I am not in charge. I am not the manager of the Universe. Thy will, not mine, be done. Turning my life and my will over to the care of God on a daily basis. THIS, for me, is the most profound relief there is. Doesn't relieve me of action -- on the contrary, doing the next right indicated thing is paramount -- but it does absolve me of worry and outcome.

* Quiet and silence -- extended breaks from the company of others and sound of my own voice. Just today I took a Day of Sacred Solitude at home (learned from you!).

* Kicking back on the couch reading blogs, looking at Flickr, with Entourage or The Tudors playing on TV in the background :)

* When nothing is expected of me -- or, when I lower my expectations of myself -- such as when I'm on retreat, or when I'm with good friends, or when I'm out in nature.

* Hearing the magical words "I'll take care of it for you." Boy do I love those words!

* Floating down Swan River in an innertube.

* Lying in a hammock, anywhere, with or without a book.

* Choosing the path of no-drama.

* Living honestly, trusting God, doing right, telling the truth, respecting my limits, practicing acceptance, saying NO when I need to say no and YES when I need to say yes.

I could go on but it'll all be in my book. :) Thanks for linking to my Women at Rest blog!

How about you? What is true rest for YOU? I'd love to hear your answers. Feel free to share either here or over on Jen's blog (which I encourage everyone to read).

Comments

[Bohemian mom]

Ohhh... I love this. I really needed to be guided to this post today. It's inspiring and empowering.
True rest for me is not leaving my bed...(except for more tea). Reading books, writing and drawing in my journal. Not answering the phone, not working, nothing but my comfy bed with the sunshiney breeze blowing gently through my window.
I also LOVE!! your "day of sacred solitude", which I may schedule for myself once a month!

[Laura West]

Hi,

I had to really think about this one. I think the only time I feel like I can truly rest is on a plane...there are no phones, faxes, emails...no expectations except to do nothing, read, sleep, watch a movie, listen to music.
No one asking for anything and I can truly let my inner "achiever" take a break.
Wow...I'm realizing how my own expectations of the things I "should" be doing or "could" be doing are always with me...except up in the sky.....

[Kikipotamus the Hobo]

I realized the other day I haven't let myself read a novel cover to cover in almost a year. I yearn for that. And so very soon, when things are more settled, that will be my gift to myself. Pure rest in my mother's cottage in Arkansas on a quiet cove.