Achievers Achieving Achievements

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A while back my friend Moby and I were talking about the guilt we feel when we slow down for health reasons. He blames the problem on capitalism, I probably think it comes more from 'American-ism,' but it really doesn't matter where it comes from.

I feel like I have to be achieving things all the time.

About ten years ago I learned that it was okay to slow down, recognize that your body needs rest, and just take care of yourself. But it's one thing for your head to know that - it's another thing entirely for your heart to embrace it, tell you that it's okay to take some time for yourself, and to shush the voice of Mom in your head saying "you still have things to do."

Now there are days where I'm not going to achieve magnificent things for work, or for art, or for cooking, or exercise, or any of the other things my little internal guilt-monster thinks that I should be doing. There are days like yesterday and today where just surviving will be success.

I spoke about it with our favorite cashier at the grocery store this morning and she understood. She said, in her typical matter-of-fact motherly voice, "how about achieving inner peace this morning?"

Tears formed in my eyes but I held them back. She's right.

You can achieve resting, or at least the best kind of resting that your pain will allow. You can achieve giving yourself space to just survive. 

I can do this.

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