This really resonated with me. I wonder if the deeper question isn't whether rest has to be earned, but why so many of us came to believe our worth depended on productivity in the first place. Illness has a way of exposing those inherited stories—and inviting us to write new ones.
Thank you. That means a lot because you've picked up on exactly what I hoped people would take away. The essay began with rest, but it ended up becoming much more about the stories we'd inherited about worth and productivity. So glad it resonated 💚
This is beautiful. Wild isn't unruly or unkempt. It's organic and free and blissfully imperfect. Here's to not equating worth with perfection or productivity. And to being more like our gardens.
That line about admiring wildness in nature while expecting perfection from yourself really stayed with me. Rest feels different when it no longer has to be earned first.
Thank you so much. I'm really glad those two ideas landed together - I think once we stop believing rest has to be earned, it changes the way we think about ourselves as much as the way we think about rest 💚
As a young individual, your writing was impactful. Always getting ahead of myself thinking that every moment needs movement. Thank you for your perspective and letting your public know that rest is key to live and that imperfection is as well.
Thank you so much. It really means a lot to know this resonated with you. I think many of us learn to equate movement with progress, when sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause 💚
Thank you. I think that's one of the loveliest compliments you could have given the piece. I hope you enjoy both your greenhouse and your hour of rest 💚
I love that you're reclaiming rest as wild. I've had to have a "nap time" since I was a kid because that's when I got sick, so I've always treated them like a chore. But the past few years, I've treated it as my replenishing time, my dreaming and creating in my brain time, so it's now less of a chore.
Thank you for sharing this. I love the idea of it becoming your dreaming and creating time rather than simply something to get through. What a beautiful shift 💚
Thank you - I think that's exactly the question I've found myself asking too. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to apologise for being human in ways that nature never does 💚
Such a beautiful and compassionate reflection, and it fits the name so perfectly. I love how our understanding and relationship to a name and an idea evolves and changes as we do, the same has happened for me with Soulfaring quite unexpectedly.
This line hit very close to home:
"Without really noticing, many of us have started treating rest as though it needs justifying, as though our worth depends on first proving we've done enough to deserve it."
Thank you so much. I love that Soulfaring has grown in meaning alongside you too. It's funny how names can reveal more of themselves over time. I'm so glad that line resonated with you 💚
I think Eastern philosophies and cultures are more open to the importance of rest and pause. Our tempo of life has always been slower and more meditative. Also, we are not so fixated on perfection- the process matters more than the product. That has its downsides, but it's kinder to both humans and nature.
Thank you. I really appreciate you adding this perspective. I was especially struck by your point about kindness - to people and to nature. It feels like those two things are often more connected than we realise 💚
This really resonated with me. I wonder if the deeper question isn't whether rest has to be earned, but why so many of us came to believe our worth depended on productivity in the first place. Illness has a way of exposing those inherited stories—and inviting us to write new ones.
Thank you. That means a lot because you've picked up on exactly what I hoped people would take away. The essay began with rest, but it ended up becoming much more about the stories we'd inherited about worth and productivity. So glad it resonated 💚
This is beautiful. Wild isn't unruly or unkempt. It's organic and free and blissfully imperfect. Here's to not equating worth with perfection or productivity. And to being more like our gardens.
Thank you - I love this. I think our gardens have so much to teach us if we're willing to notice 💚
I found this quite encouraging. Thank you.
"The way nature never appears to apologise for growing at its own pace."
I breath of fresh air. Thank you again!
Thank you - I’m so glad it resonated 💚
That line about admiring wildness in nature while expecting perfection from yourself really stayed with me. Rest feels different when it no longer has to be earned first.
Thank you so much. I'm really glad those two ideas landed together - I think once we stop believing rest has to be earned, it changes the way we think about ourselves as much as the way we think about rest 💚
As a young individual, your writing was impactful. Always getting ahead of myself thinking that every moment needs movement. Thank you for your perspective and letting your public know that rest is key to live and that imperfection is as well.
Thank you so much. It really means a lot to know this resonated with you. I think many of us learn to equate movement with progress, when sometimes the most important thing we can do is pause 💚
It's ironic that, for all our human effort, wild spaces are often the most beautiful
I love that observation - I often think wild spaces remind us that beauty doesn't always come from control 💚
I will be looking at my messy greenhouse differently. And I’m about to rest for an hour. Thank you.
Thank you. I think that's one of the loveliest compliments you could have given the piece. I hope you enjoy both your greenhouse and your hour of rest 💚
I did! It was all refreshing.
So beautiful written! You describe it so well. It really resonated with me. 💚
Thank you so much - so pleased it resonated 💚
What a great read. And so many good points.
Thank you - so pleased it resonated 💚
Well, I mean it’s sincerely. I think you said some things in there that a lot of people need to hear. Great writing. Thank you for posting it. Cheers!
I love that you're reclaiming rest as wild. I've had to have a "nap time" since I was a kid because that's when I got sick, so I've always treated them like a chore. But the past few years, I've treated it as my replenishing time, my dreaming and creating in my brain time, so it's now less of a chore.
Thank you for sharing this. I love the idea of it becoming your dreaming and creating time rather than simply something to get through. What a beautiful shift 💚
It took some doing, but it's where I actually come up with my best writing ideas so 🤷🏻♀️ trying to embrace it!
It is so true that we’ve conditioned ourselves to have to earn rest. If nature moves at its own pace without apologizing, why can’t we?
Thank you - I think that's exactly the question I've found myself asking too. Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to apologise for being human in ways that nature never does 💚
Such a beautiful and compassionate reflection, and it fits the name so perfectly. I love how our understanding and relationship to a name and an idea evolves and changes as we do, the same has happened for me with Soulfaring quite unexpectedly.
This line hit very close to home:
"Without really noticing, many of us have started treating rest as though it needs justifying, as though our worth depends on first proving we've done enough to deserve it."
An important thing to become aware of, thank you.
Thank you so much. I love that Soulfaring has grown in meaning alongside you too. It's funny how names can reveal more of themselves over time. I'm so glad that line resonated with you 💚
I think Eastern philosophies and cultures are more open to the importance of rest and pause. Our tempo of life has always been slower and more meditative. Also, we are not so fixated on perfection- the process matters more than the product. That has its downsides, but it's kinder to both humans and nature.
Thank you. I really appreciate you adding this perspective. I was especially struck by your point about kindness - to people and to nature. It feels like those two things are often more connected than we realise 💚