THE WRITER'S PAUSE: NOT A COMMA OR A COMA

Writers are at home in writing - it's always some tale with these folks. They tell stories, stir wonder and educate the world with words. They have an opinion? They share. An idea? They share. Another perspective to a widely accepted concept? They tell it. It almost seems like all they do is talk, share and write.

Do they ever stop? Do they quieten down and listen to the world? Do they take a break and pay attention to what's happening to themselves and others? Do they believe that a balance can exist between writing and listening?

I know a lot of writers are encouraged to write regularly. Some are even admonished to write daily; it's how they improve on their craft. I know the pressure that they bear between the moment they published the last piece and publishing the next.

So, I admonish you to rest. More truthfully, I demand rest of you. The next time I see you, my question to you isn't going to be 'What are you working on' or 'What was the last thing you wrote'. It would be 'Have you gotten some rest' and the answer I'll be expecting is today or just a while ago.

Rest, as simple as it sounds, can be tricky.

Sleeping doesn't equate rest neither does lying in your bed scrolling mindlessly on social media. The concept of rest is ironical to me; it's a pause and yet a skill to be cultivatedd by people who prioritize their sanity in this side of the universe.

Let me paint a picture of rest to you: Travelling. Dancing. Allowing those who love you to love you the way you deserved to be loved. Listening to uplifting music. Paying attention to those you love. Revisiting your bucket list and picking a random one to check. Enjoying other people's arts. Movies. Daydreaming. Putting your feet up. Cooking. Meditating. Being generous with your skill.

As peaceful as rest is supposed to be, it's also meant to be productive. So when I demand rest of writers, I'm not talking about power naps or actual sleep during the night. I'm talking about breaks from the hustle and stress of living. It's great to be alive but living a rested life is a mature move by those who care for themselves.

It's okay to care about the numbers in views, reach and sales. It's okay to wonder how many people know you for who you truly are - a writer. Sometimes, I find myself wondering if people would mention my name when they got asked if they knew any writer and I think that's okay. But we've got to learn to care about our minds too - the seat of our stories, ideas and of how we want to make the world an enjoyable place to live in.

I rest on this note and I hope you do too.