The Day After

Yesterday was a great celebration of Mother's Day. I enjoyed being with Don, Cara, Eliza, Jordany, Mom and Dad. I missed Baker and Brennan, of course but heard from both. My Mom and her love for me is a true gift as is being a mom myself.

This morning, I was thinking about what it feels like "the day after"

the day after a big event

the day after a vacation

the day after Christmas

the day after a birthday

a milestone

a long-anticipated, well-planned something

Often, the day after feels like a "let down."

it's understandable

a let down has different meanings in different circumstances

In these circumstances, I'm not talking about disappointment, but rather, the feeling of "Wow! It's over? Already?"

"How did that happen so fast?"

All the anticipation, the buildup, the energy...

all spent

all done

Coming home from a vacation, gives me the feeling of what I like to call

"re-entry burns"

Exhaustion often accompanies the let down on the day after.

Yesterday, I was wiped out. Sick. Depleted

sinus infection

stopped up ears

swollen glands

headache

body aches

congestion

When our bodies let down, sometimes illness follows

We've worked so hard for a particular outcome

Pushed through adversity or obstacles,

planned

perfected

performed

By the time we're done,

our bodies cry,

"Enough already. Let me rest."

Resting gives me a sense of guilt.

Being home full-time, I feel a large sense of responsibility to be "doing" something around the house...

sweeping up

picking up

putting up

washing up

Our bodies need a break if we want to regain our strength.

Otherwise, we may not be able to get up and "do it again."

Or, if we can do it again without resting, it will be at some expense

We need time to recover.

We need to give ourselves permission to be still.

And we need (I need) to be okay with that

more than "okay"

in fact,

Rest needs to become a daily practice to the point that it becomes second nature

No rest for the weary?

The weary need rest

Rest.

Rest.

Rest.