My body aches and groans, demanding rest
But my socially conditioned mind thinks it knows what is best
For me- it admonishes me for not being as productive as I should be
I have not “earned” my rest after a hard day’s work evidently..
So with a guilty conscience I disregard my body’s voice
And following the rebuke from my mind, make a choice
To ignore my sleepiness and get some work done
Being productive is how the right to rest would be won…
*
The less rest I get, the harder it becomes
To stay productive, get all my tasks done
The less productive I am, the less deserving of rest I feel
Thus I keep running on the hamster wheel
*
In a world hyper-focused on productivity
Rest is not something to be obtained for free
That is the message most of us have internalized
That rest is a fundamental need we must recognize
*
I dared to listen to my body one day
From all my responsibilities I turned away
I rested as long as I needed, emerged rejuvenated
Was more productive the next day than I had anticipated
*
A well-rested body is more productive
A good night’s sleep is the best gift I can give
To myself- to improve my well-being in every way
So if my body signals I need rest, I shall rest today
Passion...unbridled 