breaking good

The calendar, the empty hallways and the locked school doors all tell me its time to rest and to take a much-needed, week-long break from teaching, supporting student learning and taking care of all sorts of never-ending administrivia.

Even though I’m not rushing through a regular work week, I’m becoming more aware of how deep rest is not the mere absence of work and imminent deadlines. And how its not that easy to cultivate simply because there is more time for it.

Whether you find yourself catching warm rays on a beach this week, travelling with friends and family or hibernating at home against the devious return of the biting winds of winter, it seems that deep rest and nourishing restoration is a minute-by-minute choice.

For me, it's a choice this week to:

1. Transform my allegiance to the clock as lord and master to instead choosing to listen deeply to the needs of my body

2. Wholeheartedly do whatever I’m doing whether its sleeping, eating, sitting, stretching, walking, cooking, reading or writing

3. Take intentional, extended breaks from electronics, screens and pseudo-connectors and choose to listen deeply to those around me

4. Hydrate often, mindfully nourish my body with goodness and to choose to pause frequently to engage in deep, mindful breathing

5. Resist the urge to allow the word “should” into my mind or my mouth

6. Be grateful for time to pause and to rest deeply.

Here’s to learning how to break ‘good’ this week and for the days to come.