“i don’t know who needs to hear this but rest is not a reward. you don’t have to earn rest. you need rest. you deserve rest. you are worthy of rest simply because you are a living being. and don’t ever feel guilty for taking time to rest”
eso tolson
dear muse,
the beginning of a new year often arrives with urgency
goals to set, habits to build, momentum to chase
but before you move forward, we invite you to do something radical and restorative:
rest
rest is not a reward for productivity
rest is not something you earn
rest is what you deserve
this year begins not with striving, but with softness
with the understanding that a well-rested spirit is the most powerful place to begin
enjoy this week's love letter...
the bookshop.org link is an affiliate link
our meditation
find a comfortable seat or lie down
allow your body to be supported
inhale and exhale slowly
with each breath, imagine releasing the weight of expectations
old timelines, outside voices, internal pressure
enjoy
by dr lori
our podcast or playlist
this reflective podcast explores how rest reconnects us to intuition, creativity, and emotional clarity
it gently reframes rest as an essential practice and acknowledges the negative self-talk and connotations around rest in our hustle culture
perfect for a quiet morning or an evening wind-down
the power of slowing down - guilt free self-care for women
by connie riet
our journal prompt
this week’s blog explores how starting the year rested, rather than rushed, creates space for intention instead of burnout
you deserve to recharge, rest, and simply be
by morgan harper nichols of the storytellerco
our book selection
a powerful reminder that rest is a form of care, liberation, and self-respect
this book invites us to release grind culture and reclaim our right to pause
especially as we step into a new year
this novel explores what happens when a woman stops being the person everyone else expects her to be and chooses rest over societal obligations
the woman who went to bed for a year (audiobook)
by sue townsend
finally, our film selection
this drama follows linda, a therapist and mother of a child with special needs, during a harrowing week where her world unearths an all-consuming sense of burnout
this film is a poignant reminder of the "quiet horrors" of a life without rest
starring rose byrne and directed by mary bronstein
your restful ritual
light your "i deserve rest" candle
dress in your je mérite robe
grab a warm blanket with a cup of something warm and comforting
and do nothing for 10 minutes
no planning, no scrolling, no fixing, no worrying, just be
enjoy!
in closing
you do not need to rush this week
nor prove your worth
your exhaustion is not a requirement this week
let rest be the soil from which everything else grows
as we begin this new year together, may you trust that slowing down is not falling behind
it is choosing yourself
you'll be hearing more from me soon
promise
tamara charese
as always, affirmations from previous weeks are available here
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