by Dr. Tamarine ForemanNovember 24, 2024
Tis the season to be jolly and also tis time for the hustle and bustle of grading, final exams, and the holidays. With so many things upon us, how do we tend to ourselves? One answer I propose is “rest.”
I have recently been introduced to rest as being more than napping. Rest indicates time to slow down, breathe, look around, and reset. What helps you connect to your body so you can listen to what your body needs? Perhaps it is a walk outside, yoga, reading, or journaling. For some it may mean doing one thing with full attention or learning something new.
Tricia Hersey (2022) explores rest as a form of resistance. A type of active rest that helps you slow down, to tune in, so we can recharge and return to ourselves in a more compassionate and graceful manner. Resting is not done so we can return to the grind of our day. Rather, rest is a way to shift our beliefs to honor our divinity and to work less like a machine. Rest as a form of resistance rejects the tenets of capitalism and white supremacy (Heresy, 2022). We can use active rest as a way to connect with our mind and body and move beyond surviving to thriving (Pennycooke, 2020).
To learn more about Rest, I encourage you to check out the following:
- Rest as Resistance: A Manifesto, a book by Tricia Hersey (2022)
- How to think about rest as a form of Resistance : A Conversation with Tricia Hersey on NPR
- Rest as Resistance , a blog post by Makeda Pennycooke (2020)
Wishing you all a time for rest and rejuvenation.
Be Well. Stay Well.
Sincerely,
Tamarine
Tamarine Foreman, PhD, LPCC-SAssociate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Wellness