My topic this month is on REST. REJUVENATION and the body's Absolute REQUIREMENT for it.

In this modern world, we are all on 'go mode' almost 24/7. There is literally no part of our day that we can't have access to SOMETHING to read, write, do, think about, look up, consider, watch, or have the guilt of having the ABILITY to DO all the time. We now have stores, malls, gyms, car washes, gas stations, coffee shops, nail salons, access to lawyers, hotlines, television programs, internet web surfing, YOU NAME IT. It's OPEN 24/ 7! And while the 'convenience' of that sounds great ...(OH yay! Now since I’ve PACKED every minute of my DAY with busy-ness- running kids to after school programs/sports/ play dates, working extra hours, volunteering, etc, I can STILL get to the gym at MIDNIGHT. Oh JOY. Now I NEVER have to sleep. Then MAYBEEE I can fit it all in!).

Now this may be a little extreme, but think about it. This is what we DO. This is what we ALL have been DOING. How many of you, in all your BUSY-ness have made REST a priority? How many of you have 'kept the Sabbath' day Holy? How many of you MAKE SURE you meditate every single day? I have to be honest. I TEACH people about finding their ‘center’, and getting in touch with 'who' we really 'are', and I talk non stop about going ‘inward’. But guess who is MOST guilty of NOT RESTING?? MEE!!!

I go NON STOP. From the moment I wake up, I am in 'go mode’. And I don't stop until I collapse into bed. And usually, I'm pretttttty cranky at that time! I have not given myself time and space to just be... When we DO rest. We are literally opening up the channels in our bodies to be more receptive to our intuition. We are creating SPACE in our bodies, minds and spirits so we can open ourselves up to the abundance that life has for us in EACH MOMENT. When we push the limits, we constrict those channels, making everything HARDER. Which makes us GET UP AGAIN the next day and push HARDER to 'get it all done'. And then the next... And the next... Over time, our joy levels decrease. We think 'jeesh... I’m doing all this stuff. Doing doing doinggg...But nothing is getting DONE. Nothing feels fun." Resentment or feelings of inadequacies build UP. "Why am I doing all this work when so and so doesn't have to? Or Man. I must never be happy. Because even though I get to DO so much, I never feel fulfilled." WE start blaming ourselves or others for all our lack of joy. Anger starts. All of these negative emotions build up in our auras, and we literally SPREAD these 'germ emotions' to others, who are also feeling the same way. (We have all heard the expression, 'like attracts like', yes...?). So now, our inside and our outside lives are filling with negative emotions. And everything is building and building and building. Collectively, think of your own stresses magnified over the entire global experience! YIKES!!

So what can we DO?? "We must BE the change we wish to see and experience in the world. "(Ghandi) And we MUST REST. WE must separate time to just BE. Time to reflect on our day or week. Time to put ourselves in other people's shoes. Time to anticipate and gain clarity for our actions. Rather than react through out our day, we can SHOW up for our day. By resting, we open up the channels of receiving. We intuitively 'know' what feels 'right' for us and we act according to what is true to ourselves. Rest provides the space to think and see clearly. Rest allows us to not get so drained that we snap at everyone, and then feel guilty for it afterwards. Rest is a physical 'action' that says you CARE ABOUT YOURSELF and WELL BEING. It is NOT a luxury. It is a human necessity. And it's one I believe; we have all let fall to the wayside.

This month, I have been completely shut down with pneumonia. It literally FORCED me to STOP. I couldn't walk, talk or lift my head even if I wanted to. I believe this illness has been my greatest teacher. It forced me to REST. Forced me to see what I have been missing in my own life. Pause. Silence. Sleep. "Downtime". It has forced me to Trust that 'all things will be taken care of'. And that 'life goes on' even if you aren't trying to make it all happen'. I've spent the month BEING. I have never been 'more in the moment' as I have been these past few weeks. And guess what? I've never gotten more 'done' in my life!

Please be kind and show love to your Being. Allow your human self to reconnect to your 'spirit self’. And let the magic begin.

Love to all of you,
Deborah

Deborah Be. Know. Do.