Weekly Word

For the past few months, I’ve been having trouble getting my thoughts out in long form. So I wanted to start something new for me, and subsequently I hope it will serve you as well. Each week I’ll pick a word that I’m associating with the week, the definition, a quote that accompanies it, and a thought about why I choose it. <3

REST

“When I’m tired, I rest, I say, ‘I can’t be a superwoman today.’“–Jada Pinkett Smith

It feels nearly impossible to rest when there is so much darkness existing in the world. We feel responsible for fixing everything and constantly being in motion to get things done. We feel like we have to be achieving something, aspiring to become more or gaining visibility for anything that we do; because to pause or take a break in a fluctuating world is to become irrelevant, right? Well, no, someone (or many people) lied to us when they convinced us that constantly moving is the same as being productive, is the same thing as efficiency. It’s not physically or psychologically possible to constantly be moving just for the sake of making it look like we’re getting things done. We have to rest. If you’re a workaholic, or even just someone who likes to be booked and busy, I encourage you this week to take a few days to just be. You deserve to kick back and have a glass of wine, watch a Netflix movie, zone out and listen to a podcast, put on some white noise while you read a book or watch your favorite YouTube choreographer to try and learn a new routine.

Light candles, try out a new recipe, sit outside and watch the rain fall. Whatever helps you seriously and truly rest – that’s what you need more of.

FOCUS

“As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear.” –Tracee Ellis Ross

Each Sunday, the majority of the workforce who actually have Saturday and Sunday off seem to participate in mass panic and depression at the thought of what Monday will bring. With our weekend ending and the reality of the beginning of the week setting in, our collective anxiety hits ‘replay’ and has us in a perpetual state of panic – until Friday rolls around again. Over and over and over again we do this. Week after week.

I don’t want to participate in this anymore, because trust and believe that my anxiety needs NO extra help ramping up. So in practice to preserve my mental health, instead I’m choosing to intentionally focus on the feel good elements of the week. I’m focusing on my body through light yoga twice this week, my mind through continuing to read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and my spirit through prayer and daily meditation. Focus tells my mind not to stray, it tells me to hone my energy into or on this thing, and not everything else. None of us can change our circumstances immediately, so while we’re actively working to have more robust and meaningful lives, it’s up to us to dedicate time by focusing on the small things we can adjust to improve our happiness and increase our overall joy.