Life is an endless cycle of to-do lists, and in the bargain we tend to leave rest behind, don’t take it seriously, or treat it as a luxury or feel guilty about that break. What we fail to realize is that rest is imperative . It is as essential as the food we need to sustain ourselves. Without rest, we risk burnout or functioning like zombies. Rest pumps fresh energy into us, rejuvenating us so we’re happy and productive. The many faces of rest. Physical rest—taking  a break from intense physical activity, slowing down, and getting enough sleep amounts to physical rest. Mental rest—it's  the quiet when you give yourself permission not to make decisions for a while or solve problems or keep all your tabs running. Social rest— Sometimes  we need to step away from conversations, social gatherings, and simply enjoying your own company. Digital rest— When  screen time is reduced to a bare minimum, as we break free from incessant scrolling, reacting, replying, or sharing, w...

  I have been home to you for the past 31 years. ,I can vividly recall the day when you walked through my doors as a nervous, blushing bride carrying your dreams with you. Slowly and steadily you embraced your new role as a homemaker. Within 15 months, your first son was born, and your second son arrived within two years of the first.  Motherhood was a completely new experience for you, but you did your best. I watched you struggle, and I’ve seen you both broken and whole.  I’ve heard your banter, your whispered secrets, your laughter, and your arguments. The boys in their teenage years drove you and their father round the bend, and I still shudder when I remember your ‘encounters’ with them during that difficult time. The slamming of my doors almost unscrewed the hinges, and the cold silences turned me into an igloo. I understood that it was a passing phase. Now I watch you deal with the empty nest syndrome; you’re not alone, because I, too, feel a litt...