I woke up with a start. Because of the silence. Not the chirping birds.
Uh oh. I instantly knew what happened. I accidentally snoozed my phone alarm, slept through meditation class and if my intuition was correct, my 8 a.m. meeting had already started. I leapt over to my work computer and sure enough, it was 8:03 a.m. I sent my teammate a message on Slack, threw on a cashmere sweater and quickly logged on.
Ten hours of sleep? I knew I was off, but I persisted. It was only Wednesday. There was still plenty of week to go.
Not paying attention—or worse ignoring our own signals—is how things go wrong.
I actually learned this lesson from the trail long ago.
I learned that the first time I trip on a root means it’s time to start looking for a campsite for the night. When I start tripping, I’m tired. When I’m tired, I start making mistakes. From mistakes come poor choices. From poor choices come problems.
So, then why the persistence right now? Because it is the right thing, the necessary thing to do?
No. Because the prolonged unrest has made us all over-tired.
Like that inconsolable, nonsensical way that kids get.
By Saturday, when I paused for a quick lunch between my new shopkeeping gig at my friend’s letterpress studio and heading over to help my friends’ move, I dozed off—at 2:30 p.m.! I realized how deeply tired I was.
Tomorrow, I told myself. Yes, at least there was Sabbath tomorrow.
And then I remembered that I had plans! Not only had I been ignoring all the signs of fatigue, but I was so tired I had broken one of the simple guidelines for my day of rest: no plans, no work, offline.
I justified these plans as Sabbath worthy since hiking in nature is one of my favorite forms of worship. I knew better. Surely two hours of driving to the coastal range and 11 miles up and down Elk Mountain would be beautiful, but not restful.
Not what I needed on my one day off. If one day off was even enough right now.
It wasn’t.
Even though I stayed in bed most of yesterday. I watched movies and started two new books. I went to bed early, getting another 11-hour night’s sleep. And yet, as it took me 20 minutes to write a simple email this morning, I knew. I was still off. But this time, instead of “responsibly” plugging ahead, I called it quits for the day. I pressed pause again. I needed more rest.
Now more than ever, we all need to stay healthy. We need to stay alert.
The last thing the world needs right now is more mistakes, poor choices and bigger problems.
When we are rested, we can bring forth clarity, wisdom and sense.
May you pause before you act this week.
Love,
Jules
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