So, in the spirit of resting from our labors (not yet in the eternal sense, obviously)...
Share in the comments something restful you did this summer (or winter, for those of you in the southern hemisphere), and then share one way you hope to practice Sabbath during the busy season coming up. Consider it both idea-sharing and a tiny bit of accountability!
And, if you have any great books to recommend, please share--we can all use a little escape or a little more-restful-style-work in these days!
I got pneumonia this summer, which is an effective (although not recommended) means of getting some rest. I had to quit quite a few things because of this - class I was taking, committee I was chairing, extra worship service at the nursing home. Mostly have filled those new hours with episodes of Star Trek Voyager, but as my energy returns, I'm enjoying not having EVERY MINUTE CRAMMED. How the fall fills those Not Every Minutes remains to be seen.
ReplyDeleteSabbath practices that work for me: rigorous maintenance of a day off, daily exercise/yoga/stretching, and taking all my vacation.
Best book of the summer, if not the year: Cheryl Strayed's Wild.
PS: I like that you post this "late" because it means this west-coaster can have an early crack at it! Thanks!
oh, pneumonia! so sorry you had to go through that, but glad you got to clear your schedule to recover.
DeleteThanks for the book recommendation!!
This summer I got to meet up with some RevGals in Scotland and do fun things with them, and though I was technically on a work trip, my few hours with each of them was restful and wonderful!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to fall and the Sabbath I'll surely need in the midst of the beginning of the program year....I'm hoping to be obnoxiously religious about my day off. I also hope to get outside for a walk every day that it isn't raining or hotter than 85.
books...oh my! I read a lot this summer. I think my favorite non-work book this summer was probably The Happiness Project (yes, I'm slow!).
My therapist has me working through The Art Of Extreme Self-Care. Highly recommended!
I've just come from the Labor Day Jazzercise class. There were ~80 people and 5 instructors, a festival atmosphere. And it was a 1.5 hr. class. Feels good.
ReplyDeleteI've been resting (escaping) by reading, and am in the middle of the sequel to Deborah Harkness' A Discovery of Witches. Just finished And His Lovely Wife by Connie Schultz, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and wife of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown. Considering moving to Ohio so I can vote for him.
Trying something new: every time I read or hear vituperation regarding the upcoming election, I stop and do breath prayer. It means I pray a lot but it is better for my ... spirit.
Wishing all a wonderful day.
so glad you got a good workout in today! that reading list is fab--i'll be putting them on my list too! thanks MB!
DeleteSo far we are rigorous and obnoxious about our day off. Goodness, even THAT is sounding like hard work :)
ReplyDeleteGlad for this Labor Day and the time to get my kiddos organized for the start of school tomorrow. One of the treats of the summer was a family end-of-August vacation -- unusual for us, because school typically starts before Labor Day here.
ReplyDeleteThe reading pleasure is a revisit of Madeleine L'Engle's novels: aaahh! The Sabbath practice of the fall is more (a.k.a. more intentionally observed) writing time.
ah, intentional writing time....such a good idea! perhaps I'll get back to that this fall as well. thanks for the little nudge!
DeleteWhat could be better than a read-through of ML'E? My favorite author evah.
DeleteWell, I did indeed have a restful place to recharge during the summer... a barrier island in coast South Carolina. Ahhhh..... How to bring that into the busy school year? I'm not really sure. I am setting an alarm on my iPhone to go off when I am trying to have a regular prayer and meditation time. We've only gone through one week of school, so we'll see if I can make it a habit. I will confess that we did NOT have a restful day today! We spent the day cleaning the house (which badly needed it).
ReplyDeleteAs far as books go, I am reading "The Book Thief" by Marcus Zusak. I've just started it, but it's wonderful.
ooh...setting an alarm for prayer, like monastery bells. great idea. Thanks!!
DeleteJust ordered the Art of Extreme Self Care. I have not taken a real vacation all summer. Diocesan stress is at an all time high as we start to shift to a new provisional bishop. Parish is all new programing with new CE director. I am running on empty with no end in sight, so I took Saturday to organize my office (sense of control), and I have read my first Agatha Christie novel this weekend. I am going to work from home tomorrow as I wait for the AC repair guy - yes we still need it here for several more weeks.
ReplyDeleteI have a long weekend in KY in October, and then a cruise for Thanksgiving to look forward to, so I can see light at the end of the tunnel but I'm a stress ball right now. funny how I know what I should be doing for self-care but cannot see my way through it.
sending you some Sabbath prayers, Amy! Hope you find some rest, or at least a few deep breaths. I know you didn't ask for advice, so I'll share only one tiny thing that has helped me a lot: "it's never going to be done, so you might as well rest so you can give it your best" (says my therapist). hope you have time to fill your pitcher!
DeleteThanks Teri! I've actually had some enforced sabbath. 17yo was home sick today and slept most of the day, so I got a bit of work done, but actually took the time to just sit and think. It felt really good and I feel more peaceful. I had a mentor who would say "It's never going to be done - go home!" I like you rhyming ending
DeleteDear hearts -- spent Labour Day making PICKLES with the help of my brother who dropped in -- so we had lots of conversation, and while the bread-n-butter ones were resting on the ice we went and found an actual video store and then watched "The Bank Job" before returning to the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteReading -- I really enjoyed Margaret Silf's "Just call me Lopez" (about Ignatius)....
but the best reading of all this summer was Alan Bennett, "The Uncommon Reader" which spoke with both humour and affection to so MANY concerns of mine. It's a fantasy novella. What if the Queen's corgis took offense at the visiting bookmobile van, and the Queen went to see what the row was about. HILARITY ENSUES...and some very trenchant political commentary by the way.
"Oh Norman," the Queen said, "The Prime Minister doesn't seem to have read Hardy........"
One doesn't have to be English to suffer under the rule of people who haven't read Hardy.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
CR - Uncommon Reader going on my wish list now! Thanks!
Delete