Year in Review: Rest

My 2023 word of the year was rest. My goal was to fill my own cup so I could be better prepared to pour into others’ cups, building a new life, and a new career.

It went pretty mediumly. Each month I made a small list of restful things I wanted to try, including reading more, sitting on the porch to drink coffee, meditating, using low lights, drawing and coloring, playing board or card games, watching comfort movies and shows, gardening and caring for my house plants, getting enough sleep or taking naps on days I didn’t, trying new recipes, and taking days off social media.

The hardest part of resting this year was finding calm, quiet places where I wasn’t overstimulated. We have our whole life in our bedroom, so no part of it is soothing. And with four adults and a dog living in the same house, finding a quiet, calm place at home was basically impossible. I spent a lot of time in the local coffee shop, but eventually, I got sick of crying in public, so I started trying to make my room or the porch work.

I still have a lot of work to do before I think I’ll feel able to really rest. But I am hopeful that one day I will figure this whole rest situation out.