Rest...

Catnaps...

No rest for the weary...
Rest and relaxation...
Bed rest...
Rest stops...

I "Googled" the word 'rest' and the following results appeared on my screen...

rest¹

rest/

verb

1. 1.

   cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.

   "he needed to rest after the feverish activity"

   synonyms:

   relax, take a rest, ease up/off, let up, slow down, have/take a break,unbend, unwind, recharge one's batteries, be at leisure, take it easy,put one's feet up; More
2. 2.

   be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position.

   "her elbow was resting on the arm of the sofa"

   synonyms:

   lie, be laid, repose, be placed, be positioned, be supported by More

noun

1. 1.

   an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity.

   "you look as though you need a rest"

   synonyms:

   repose, relaxation, leisure, respite, time off, breathing space,downtime; More
2. 2.

   an object that is used to support something.

   "a chin-rest"

   synonyms:

   stand, base, holder, support, rack, frame, shelf More

The definitions that spoke to me in an "aha moment" are "refresh oneself, or recover strength" and the synonym that especially stood out to me was "recharge one's batteries."  

Why do we feel guilty when we take time to rest, recover and recharge?  The dishes, laundry and to do lists aren't going anywhere; they will be there when we get up...trust me.  Taking a sick day? PUH-LEEZE (misspelled for emphasis) - most of us have to be on our virtual deathbeds before we allow ourselves the "luxury" of a day in bed...but that is just the "prescription" most doctors prescribe for a cold or flu.  Stress fracture or any sprain...rest the muscle, give it a break. We can even take advice from the video industry when they say "please be kind and rewind." (Okay...that may be a stretch but it's still applicable nonetheless.) ;-) 

This posting came to me in the healing and aftermath of the passing of our precious and beloved "dog child," Bailey.  

So it is with this posting that I continue to honor her life, after all, her example of "stopping and smelling EVERYTHING" was the premise of this blog, per se.  So, in closing today, I say REST in Peace, Dear Bailey! Enjoy the big dog park in the sky; we love and miss you so very much!

Oxymoron...

Jumbo shrimp...
Baby grand...
A cactus in the shape of a heart?

During a morning walk, I saw this little piece of irony along the walking path.  Upon seeing the cactus, I had an "aha moment" and thought that it was the perfect combination of protection and softness...and a natural expression of the state of our hearts most of the time. We put walls up to protect us, to protect our hearts. 
Scripture even advises us to do this..."Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).

Unfortunately this "strategy" is usually implemented only after our heart has already been bruised or broken.  

Fool me once, shame on you...fool me twice, shame on me.

Once we experience the gut-wrenching pain of a broken heart, we vow to never let anyone do that to us again, to never allow ourselves to go through that pain so we develop "spines" and build walls to keep the remaining pieces of our heart protected and future hurts at bay.  For some, that growth comes a bit slower, after their heart has taken multiple hits; for those few individuals who can truly "turn the other cheek" and "forgive and forget"...or whose "character radar" is more fine-tuned, those walls or spines never develop.  Their hearts remain intact and beat free from any emotional scarring.

Regardless of which "bucket" you find yourself, consider yourself lucky.  If your radar is better than most and your heart has never been broken, be thankful you were spared the pain.  If your heart is on the mend or was broken but healed, "never be ashamed of your scars because it simply means you were stronger than what tried to hurt you" (author unknown).

And regardless, be thankful for nature's little gems that speak to us per se and touch our souls.