I’m a runner. I try to run 3-4 days a week. I’ve only recently introduced strength training to my repertoire. It started when I read a book called “Younger Next Year for Women” by Chris Crowley. My main takeaway from that book was the important role strength plays as we get older. It’s no longer about looking good. It’s more about feeling good and being able to do the activities we enjoy. Yes please to being strong and healthy. What I learned about strength training is that lifting weights doesn’t build muscle. It tears it down. You need to build in rest and recovery days in order to build it back up.
What a metaphor for life. We work, we move, we hustle, we think, we go, we help, we do, do, do. We are tearing ourselves down. Just like lifting weights, this isn’t a bad thing! It’s part of the process. It only becomes a problem when we neglect the rest and recovery.
Pause. Ask yourself if rest and recovery is part of your lifestyle.
When you think of rest and recovery, what comes to mind? Do you think rest and recovery means doing nothing and wasting time? Do you think it’s selfish to take time for yourself to rest and recover? Or do you think rest and recovery means creating space for building ourselves back up? An active process?
What would happen if you CHOSE the latter? How would your life be different? What might you give yourself permission for? What happens when you let go? Inhale. Exhale. Breathe, breathe, breathe.
A three week vacation may be just what we need to rest and recover. But it also could be as simple as taking a bath. Or putting on a face mask. Or curling up with a good book.
Listen. Listen to yourself. What are you craving? Practice the art of paying attention. Notice first. Be curious and compassionate with yourself. Once we notice, we are empowered with choice. How will you respond?
