Rest & Play are Essential for Well-Being

My father was a restauranteur with a strong work ethic.  He worked long hours in a stressful and demanding career as a renowned chef.  He was completely dedicated to his restaurant and his craft, yet every summer he handed the reins to his kitchen staff and took six weeks off at our small family cabin in the mountains to flyfish, rest and enjoy the natural beauty.  I would join him as part of my summer vacation.  It gave me some of my most treasured childhood memories of flyfishing with him, wading aimlessly in creeks, tracking the sun and the stars, looking for wildflowers, and playing cards.  There was no TV.  I remember the comfort of the wood stove being fired up in the morning, the smell of fresh trout cooking in butter, lazing in the hammock under the pine trees, and trying to catch crickets in the afternoon as they guaranteed a trout on the line.

Those summers were some of my best teachers and healers.  They informed my life and taught me the essential values of rest, play, and time spent in nature.  They restored my spirit and optimism.  I would return to the new school year ready to engage in learning and creative projects.

 

Just normal life is stressful and challenging.  The times we’re in are unprecedented, driving up stress levels to new heights, making the need for rest and play that much more essential for our health and well-being.

So, take time this summer to recreate your favorite summer memories and create some new ones.  Unplug and allow yourself rest, play and laughter.  Pleasure is one of the five P’s, a foundational pillar of a balanced, fulfilling, and ‘Reinspired’ life.

 

Sabrina Roblin, CPCC, a former executive and founder of Life Reinspired, is happily enjoying her best chapter of life. She now helps others do the same. Schedule a free Life Reinspired Strategy Session or email info@lifereinspired.com.