You Are A Human Being Not A Human Doing

Hi friends,

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted. Like....existentially. I'm doing less. I'm saying "no" more. But I'm still heavy with grief. 

We’re discussing rest and well-being more in social impact spaces, but practicing what we preach is an entirely different struggle. 

So in times like these, I find it helps to turn to the experts. 

The first expert is nature. Like so many other living things, rest is an essential part of our rhythms. It doesn’t have to be earned, and like the Dahlia, we often need to contract to bloom. 

@introlense on Tiktok Introlense

My favorite human expert is Tricia Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry. She reminds us that rest is resistance - a life-long love practice rooted in justice. I’m a big fan of The Rest Deck and have pulled a card specifically for this month’s Care Package:

So if your mind, body, and/or spirit are exhausted, please be gentle with yourself. Experiment with tools and habits that prioritize the kind of rest you need, whenever you need it. Be unapologetic about pausing your job search. Opt out of New Year's resolutions. And as we wind down this rollercoaster of a year remember - you are a human being, not a human doing. 

In solidarity,

Katie