Rest

Well, the holiday season is over, the good china put away until next time, gifts that didn’t fit have been returned or exchanged, and the last of the pine needles have been vacuumed from the rug (although there have been years when I was still finding them in July!). 

After such a potentially busy and often hectic time of the year, many of us are feeling the need for a little R&R.  As much fun as all the festivities can be, family get-togethers have a way of bringing up old issues and feelings that can leave us emotionally and physically drained.

How do we relax and rest enough to replenish our depleted wells of energy?  How do we take time to rest in the face of so much still to be done - in both our personal lives and in the world?  And how do we calm the worries that can creep into our minds as the after-holiday bills start to arrive?

There are certainly ways to rest that temporarily recharge our batteries, ways that give us a break from our duties such as taking short naps, walking in nature, or immersing ourselves in an activity that we find relaxing and fun.

How though, do we rest while still engaged with all of life’s demands?  How do we walk in the world, fully aware of problems and pressures, but at the same time remain in a place of internal quiet and rest?  I have found that for myself, this is possible only when I turn inward, and rest into that place at the core of my being of absolute Trust.  That place that knows that all is well and that whatever happens, I am safe.  I believe that this knowing resides in all of us and that accessing it is what allows us to truly rest, no matter what we encounter in life.  It is the rest that gives us the strength and courage to face life’s many challenges with equanimity and even quiet joy.

I want to say how excited we are to be bringing our recent changes in the Journal to the cover itself.  You’ve probably noticed the changes that we’ve made to the look and feel of our name.  We’ve also added the new subheading “A Journal For Personal and Planetary Well-Being.”  I love the quiet and elegant simplicity this brings to the cover and believe that it reflects our growth and what we hope to help contribute to the world.

Pat Lutz
Managing Editor