A Rest Manifesto - Part 1

My mother carried me through a stormy pregnancy, so when I finally emerged into this dark, uncertain world, she said, "You've done well. Rest now, dear child." And that is my name: Simi (Which, as you may have guessed, means "rest" in my language).

I haven't always lived by my name; quite the opposite, actually. But in recent years, with the subtle pressure of age and the retrospective wisdom of experience, I have come to value my rest. I've also come to recognize how hard I have to fight for it, and in this regard, my biggest challenger is....well, also me.

A few years ago, in lieu of resolutions, I began to make commitments to myself about how I want to live. My goals for 2022 are really a collection of promises I've made to myself through the years. The list grows with each successive year, and some are easier to keep than others; but they have anchored me and served as a North Star of sorts on this journey of living by my name.

I call them my Rest Manifesto, and here's a few of them:

#Simi's Manifesto #1: Always remember you are a creation of immense value -- and live by this truth. For me, this has been a reminder to treat myself with care and generosity, much as I would any possession of great value.

• Especially useful for: Everyone

• Difficulty level: On a cerebral level, it seems pretty fundamental. I own it without reserve, state it often, expect to be treated in this regard, and remind others to find themselves in this truth. But in certain areas of life, I find it's not as easy to implement, in practice. I've had to put some boundaries in place.

• What this looks like: Putting bed time on the calendar and not trying to keep up with energizer bunny (aka Simi from college days) who gets by on three hours of sleep :) Negotiating commensurate rates for my time, and higher rates yet for premium time (weekends, evenings). Making my health a priority--being a good steward of my body (eating well, taking naps, taking a walk) and my mind (switching off my laptop when the alarm goes off, spending time in solitude and prayer, journaling...and the occasional weekend TV show bingeing to get my mind off work).

Simi's Manifesto #2: Do one thing every week that sparks joy. Sometimes, amidst the humdrum of daily routines and the race to check off to-dos, I would become content with just coasting along. But there's this wonderful thing called joy--it's an unending well that fuels life, and sometimes, it needs a spark!

• Especially useful for: Everyone

• Difficulty level: Pretty easy.

• What this looks like: I find the little things that make me smile and make them a part of my weekly agenda. A chocolate croissant and coffee with the crema just right at my favorite café--what's not to enjoy about that?

Simi's Manifesto #3: Love your space. I found that I work better when I'm in an environment I enjoy--and when my environment loves me back. That's often a coffee shop, but in the work-from-home era, I've learned to make my space.

• Especially useful for: Everyone

• Difficulty level: It's fairly easy to accomplish once you recognize what you need in your environment to be inspired.

• What this looks like: Sunlight is always like healing balm to my soul, so I always find a spot where the light is streaming in. Last year, working from home, I set up a hammock in my bedroom, next to the window, with a view of the sunrise and a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood street. I've done some of my best work in that hammock, even if I do say so myself.

In 2020, I added one more point to my Rest Manifesto amidst the fluctuating emotions of grief, after my dad passed away:

Simi's Manifesto #4: It's okay to cry when you're sad; it's also okay to be happy when you're sad. This one is about giving oneself the time and space and grace to grieve; it's also about giving oneself permission to find joy even when you're grieving.

• Especially useful for: Everyone.

• Difficulty level: Depends on the day.

• What this looks like: Crying when I feel like it. Laugh-crying, sometimes. Not feeling guilty when I'm happy. Reliving happy memories. Telling the story of a papa who loved me well :)