What a pleasure it was to read this. The way you write is so soothing, like a warm lavender bath. I am an inveterate compliment-giver, and I see people’s faces light up every time. Same when it’s the other way around and I’m receiving the compliment. For that brief moment, I feel connected to them and to humanity.
Oooooh, thank you for your kind words, Alka. They mean so much. And I sensed as much in you (re: inveterate compliment-giver) when we spoke. I think that's why I kept saying I wished you were my next-door neighbor. Haha. I hope we meet in person one day!
Yes! All good and these acts of kindness cost nothing but a little time, conscious thought and the willingness to engage. Self-care is a priority if we are to care for others. Share the love, give generously and unselfishly and it will come back to you in the form of glad surprises. Have a wonder filled weekend!
Thank you! And I'm so glad. I think I offer so many because I'm always out walking the dogs and noticing people and then things just spill out without much, if any, forethought. It's a bit like compliment Tourette's.
Oh my goodness, how wonderful!! My parents and all my cousins, et cetera are English so we're like...what is a nap? Hah. I have a lot of lineage imprinting to undo but here I go! Whee.
Morning from Stormy Mallorca - your words trickled through me like a comfort blanket - as I’m
Slowly waking up for the new week.
I’m obsessed with kindness and am always looking for ways to connect with strangers, you’re right it’s a two way benefit and I often feel high after these exchanges.
I live in mallorca and my Spanish is quite poor but I have enough words to compliment a stranger on her dress or his smile!
Ooooh, thank you, Emma! I'm kind of obsessed with kindness, as well. Not a bad shared obsession to have!
I'm attempting to learn Spanish via Duolingo and now a bit of Preply. Such a beautiful language! Are you learning from immersion? Compliments in Spanish sound extra beautiful!!
Always lovely to swim in these images of everyday rest and kindness. Yes, naps have become a best friend, and I am struck by how I also see my bedroom so differently when I nap there. In summer, the window is open and the air balmy, and the light plays on the walls, which are painted a mango yellow. The bookshelves are comforting to look at, as you said, and all the favorite collected beautiful objects, photographs, the furniture from different family over the years, fabrics, paintings. I get to appreciate it because of the slowness, I think. Otherwise, it's just a pass-through. Sometimes my nap is just reading something soothing (right now, it's Ann Patchett's Tom Lake). But letting myself drift off to sleep as well. It's become a necessity. I miss it when I don't get it. Thanks for highlighting this small kindness to ourselves in your post.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this, Mary! You put it much better than I. It sounds like we're having parallel experiences!
Whilst we're still having warm weather, I enjoy taking my Half Hour of Daily Rest outside but my sweet kitty, Rudy Lu, is getting older and more and more enjoys his afternoon nap upstairs in bed, so, such as today, I follow him. I think I could have easily fallen asleep but just as I lay down, the neighbor to the right began working on his car, the one to the left pulled out his weed whacker, and someone down the lane began cutting the grass! So I picked up my book, wondering if reading fit into my newly designated Half Hour of Daily Rest. I mean, I create my own guidelines!! But thus far, the rest has mostly entitled lying on the earth listening to the birds! So good to know, you sometimes read on your Daily Rest. I'm on a learning curve and this is helpful!
Another thing I'm sorting out for myself: Today is my Once A Week Day Off Income Work And Chores...so should I be on here responding to your lovely comment? I think so! It's my hope to earn a sustainable income from Beyond, but the work is also my joy! And certainly responding to comments only holds the joy aspect.
Who knew resting could present so many interesting twists and turns! Thanks for sharing your experience with resting. It's timely, insightful, and helpful!
Ps. Have we discussed this already? I also have 24/7 dizziness. I’ve largely adapted to it after 8 years but the first 2 we’re living hell. Do you have an official diagnosis or just generalized vertigo? I live with Mal de Débarquement Syndrome. So many different types of dizziness out there but through some of the advocacy film work I’ve done with a vestibular disorders organization, I’ve found so many shared experiences. If you ever want to connect on this topic more, I’d be happy to share some helpful resources. ❤️
Yes, so many different types. Oof. It can really be a struggle to find help. Mine is structural. I go through stretches of it being gone or barely there. But if I slip alignment, then, wham, it's back. So sorry you have it 24/7. It's really hard.
Does “having interesting cat walks” count? I’ve leash trained my kitties—owl, bobcat and coyote neighbors—and every day they take me on quiet, inquisitive walks, looping under trees, behind hedges and always pausing to listen to something I can’t hear but delight nevertheless.
As someone who also experiences the world spinning sometimes and how scary that is, I appreciate you sharing it and reminding us to rest. I have been creating as much of a bubble around my weekends as I can so I can really sink in and read, write, walk, putter. Puttering is so soothing and satisfying! Keeping my own company for two days is vital to me now.
Oh no, I'm sorry you also experience vertigo. Oof. It's so hard. A bubble around the weekend sounds perfect. And, yes, puttering is so soothing and satisfying. I agree! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
I came back to this post and noticed something new....where the first time I read, it was about rest, the second time I read it was about joy. Clearly the two are in relationship. This week painting brought me joy, along with the connection it brought! I wrote about it on my substack!
What a pleasure it was to read this. The way you write is so soothing, like a warm lavender bath. I am an inveterate compliment-giver, and I see people’s faces light up every time. Same when it’s the other way around and I’m receiving the compliment. For that brief moment, I feel connected to them and to humanity.
Oooooh, thank you for your kind words, Alka. They mean so much. And I sensed as much in you (re: inveterate compliment-giver) when we spoke. I think that's why I kept saying I wished you were my next-door neighbor. Haha. I hope we meet in person one day!
Yes! All good and these acts of kindness cost nothing but a little time, conscious thought and the willingness to engage. Self-care is a priority if we are to care for others. Share the love, give generously and unselfishly and it will come back to you in the form of glad surprises. Have a wonder filled weekend!
Yes to every word! I hope you have a wonder filled weekend, as well, Gary!
this brought joy right now for sure
Ooooh, thank you! I'm glad!
I've just recently discovered the guilty pleasure of a nap. Thank you for helping me erase the guilty part.
Hah! Very happy to do so. Meanwhile: It hasn't happened to me again. Hopefully soon! Enjoy yours!
Such a beautiful little piece of writing. Made me so happy to read it and also inspired me to offer more compliments as I wander through this world.
Thank you! And I'm so glad. I think I offer so many because I'm always out walking the dogs and noticing people and then things just spill out without much, if any, forethought. It's a bit like compliment Tourette's.
And ps Naps are amazing- keep them up. It’s obligatory to siesta in spain, that’s why I moved here!!!
Oh my goodness, how wonderful!! My parents and all my cousins, et cetera are English so we're like...what is a nap? Hah. I have a lot of lineage imprinting to undo but here I go! Whee.
Morning from Stormy Mallorca - your words trickled through me like a comfort blanket - as I’m
Slowly waking up for the new week.
I’m obsessed with kindness and am always looking for ways to connect with strangers, you’re right it’s a two way benefit and I often feel high after these exchanges.
I live in mallorca and my Spanish is quite poor but I have enough words to compliment a stranger on her dress or his smile!
.
Thank you for your words. They’re beautiful. ☀️
Ooooh, thank you, Emma! I'm kind of obsessed with kindness, as well. Not a bad shared obsession to have!
I'm attempting to learn Spanish via Duolingo and now a bit of Preply. Such a beautiful language! Are you learning from immersion? Compliments in Spanish sound extra beautiful!!
Always lovely to swim in these images of everyday rest and kindness. Yes, naps have become a best friend, and I am struck by how I also see my bedroom so differently when I nap there. In summer, the window is open and the air balmy, and the light plays on the walls, which are painted a mango yellow. The bookshelves are comforting to look at, as you said, and all the favorite collected beautiful objects, photographs, the furniture from different family over the years, fabrics, paintings. I get to appreciate it because of the slowness, I think. Otherwise, it's just a pass-through. Sometimes my nap is just reading something soothing (right now, it's Ann Patchett's Tom Lake). But letting myself drift off to sleep as well. It's become a necessity. I miss it when I don't get it. Thanks for highlighting this small kindness to ourselves in your post.
Yes, yes, yes to all of this, Mary! You put it much better than I. It sounds like we're having parallel experiences!
Whilst we're still having warm weather, I enjoy taking my Half Hour of Daily Rest outside but my sweet kitty, Rudy Lu, is getting older and more and more enjoys his afternoon nap upstairs in bed, so, such as today, I follow him. I think I could have easily fallen asleep but just as I lay down, the neighbor to the right began working on his car, the one to the left pulled out his weed whacker, and someone down the lane began cutting the grass! So I picked up my book, wondering if reading fit into my newly designated Half Hour of Daily Rest. I mean, I create my own guidelines!! But thus far, the rest has mostly entitled lying on the earth listening to the birds! So good to know, you sometimes read on your Daily Rest. I'm on a learning curve and this is helpful!
Another thing I'm sorting out for myself: Today is my Once A Week Day Off Income Work And Chores...so should I be on here responding to your lovely comment? I think so! It's my hope to earn a sustainable income from Beyond, but the work is also my joy! And certainly responding to comments only holds the joy aspect.
Who knew resting could present so many interesting twists and turns! Thanks for sharing your experience with resting. It's timely, insightful, and helpful!
Yes! And I find your posts incredibly insightful, hence my ability to respond in kind.
Ps. Have we discussed this already? I also have 24/7 dizziness. I’ve largely adapted to it after 8 years but the first 2 we’re living hell. Do you have an official diagnosis or just generalized vertigo? I live with Mal de Débarquement Syndrome. So many different types of dizziness out there but through some of the advocacy film work I’ve done with a vestibular disorders organization, I’ve found so many shared experiences. If you ever want to connect on this topic more, I’d be happy to share some helpful resources. ❤️
Yes, so many different types. Oof. It can really be a struggle to find help. Mine is structural. I go through stretches of it being gone or barely there. But if I slip alignment, then, wham, it's back. So sorry you have it 24/7. It's really hard.
Does “having interesting cat walks” count? I’ve leash trained my kitties—owl, bobcat and coyote neighbors—and every day they take me on quiet, inquisitive walks, looping under trees, behind hedges and always pausing to listen to something I can’t hear but delight nevertheless.
Oh, that's so funny, I almost added cat walks! Quiet, inquisitive cat walks sounds perfect!!
As someone who also experiences the world spinning sometimes and how scary that is, I appreciate you sharing it and reminding us to rest. I have been creating as much of a bubble around my weekends as I can so I can really sink in and read, write, walk, putter. Puttering is so soothing and satisfying! Keeping my own company for two days is vital to me now.
Oh no, I'm sorry you also experience vertigo. Oof. It's so hard. A bubble around the weekend sounds perfect. And, yes, puttering is so soothing and satisfying. I agree! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Hey Jane - I found Rebecca Makkai on one of the pages of Chicago Reader - thanks for your seed!!
Oh, I'm so glad! I'm sure you will enjoy all her writings!
Sometimes for sure 😊
I came back to this post and noticed something new....where the first time I read, it was about rest, the second time I read it was about joy. Clearly the two are in relationship. This week painting brought me joy, along with the connection it brought! I wrote about it on my substack!