Book Talk: On Rest, Reading, and Good Medicine
An audio narration of this post is available above by pressing “play”.
Greetings —
As you may know from previous posts, I’m a bit of a tangential thinker (talker, writer, doer…). Like a river or a path in the woods, my mind has a vast main route with many winding streams and offshoots like branches and roots. I’ve noticed a theme lately of trying to “fix” the world around me — in Healthcare, Care in the Community, Loneliness, etc. and, though I do believe improvements are needed, sometimes I have to pump the brakes hard in order to rest my mind.
This past week, I’ve had an uninterrupted week of “paid time off” (PTO). Time off from work, and on with my family. It has been magical. We celebrated one kid turning into a teenager, attended conferences at school, visited family all over the Chicago suburbs, and caught up on some neglected chores and tasks in our home. I gathered the final harvest from this season’s garden, started and finished a few sewing projects, and, of course, have done a bit of writing and reading. Overall, this time “off” has been very productive and restorative, like a reset button in my spirit. Yum
Working in Healthcare (capital H) is a practice in accountability to do the actual work I was hired to do, balanced with my desire to make things better, and flavored with my excitement for fun and new ideas. Writing helps me sort out ideas, decide what to do with them, prioritize and optimize, and be able to articulate and clarify with others so we’re on the same page (or at least in the same book). Writing takes all these tangents in my mind and weaves them into a more cohesive whole. Gives it some rhythm. Meaning. And then you, dear reader, spend your time reading (or listening) to what I’ve shared, and that becomes part of your mind’s tributaries and inputs. Shared ideas and collaboration — a purpose — is born.
It’s an alchemy — to have a conversation, meld ideas, hope for the future — and your mind is as much a part of this as mine. Isn’t that magical? Very human.
Gratitude on the Path Forward
With that said, I’ve also spent much of this past week focusing on gratitude. We in the US marked the holiday called Thanks-Giving, which is as much about giving thanks as it is about asking forgiveness from those whose sacrifice provided what we now take for granted. It’s nuanced. To celebrate. To feel at home. To be in community. Think about all the events that had to line up for us to even be here right now. The events of human evolution, exploration, conquering. The opportunities for division, unity, and growth. The potential to further evolve, elevate, extrapolate. We’re discovering our future one choice at a time.
Where are we headed?
How will we get there?
What will we prioritize, sacrifice, surrender on the way?
At this time, I think my path is headed in the right direction. My moral compass seems well-calibrated. We’re headed towards a future of improved care of the human body. The development of a caring community that is local, global, and sustainable. The return of joy, comfort, and the absence of suffering (or at least a reduction). You know, the little stuff :)
Working on projects (like a blog/podcast, sewing, knitting) and playing (with my family, alone, in nature) sustains me.
Rest is something I neglect to remember. But I’d say I did some resting this week, too.
At the beginning of my week off, my lovely friend and confidant sent me an IG post about Rest. Likening self-care to taking a bath — if you want to take a bath you need to do two things: plug the drain (rest), and add water (recharge). I needed to hear that very much (Thank you, Renee). I tend not to rest well.
When I read, I rest. A physical book, on paper, held in my hands, flipping through pages. Books force me to sit still. And sometimes when I sit, a cat or human comes to my lap. Securing me for the time being, in stillness, to just sit and rest.
Reading and Resting: Books To Season our Minds This Winter
I’ll wrap this up by sharing a few books that I’ve been bouncing between in my rest. I hope you’ll take this as a nudge if you’re looking for something to add to your pile. Or, at least you’ll get a sense of what’s flavoring my experience while I’m away from the keyboard. Either way, make sure you’re seasoning your mind well in these colder months. Wintering is a normal part of being alive — rest, stillness, restoration. Rest-vacation?
No Pressure, No Diamonds: Mining for Gifts in Illness & Loss by Teri A. Dillion
This book came to me by recommendation of
, a poet and activist whose work I discovered thanks to Instagram and some adorable squirrel videos. Andreas words have been medicine for me in so many ways. A salve on my crusty, pandemic heart. The simplicity of love, gratitude, and purpose. Just… yeah.Andrea, by way of social media, has shared their own nonlinear journey of cancer diagnosis, treatment, reoccurrence, and uncertainty. Between Substack, Instagram, and real-life publications (books), I’ve come to know them almost like a distant relative. I feel my nursey/parental heart reaching out with comfort when I hear/read about how things are going in Andrea’s life. We don’t know each other, but there’s a familiarity I can’t describe.
So, when Andrea suggested “No Pressure, No Diamonds” in this post (The Most Magical Story I May Ever Tell) from a few weeks back, I didn’t hesitate to order a copy for myself. I linked the post, as I cannot say it better than this:
I’m about 2 chapters into “No Pressure, No Diamonds” and WOOF. Woof. Wow. Just wow. It didn’t just grab my attention, but latched on. No tidy answers?? Come with me, let’s read it together!
When I’m not devouring the memoir above, I’m dabbling in Micro Activism (as I described recently).
Micro Activism: How You can Make a Difference in the World (Without a Bullhorn) by Omkari L. Williams
This is another I’m taking in doses, and I’ve mentioned it to a few confidants who I think would also enjoy. Micro Activism is the most practical, digestible, and motivating book I could hold at this point in time. It’s colorful, the sections are short, and each topic has discussion/reflection questions that prompt the reader to dig in to their own activist work. I did not, until this month, consider myself an “activist”. I do now. Unapologetically. And permitting myself this nuanced title seems to give me permission to activate. It’s cool. This is another book that I’d love to hear if anyone is reading. Maybe we could create a book club on Discord? :)
That’s all for today — I appreciate you taking the time to read my words here, and to share with others if you feel called to do so.
Sometimes I sit still, often I’m in constant motion. So, while we have a moment, a breath, some stillness this winter, let’s nourish our minds/spirits with some good medicine.
Take good care —
Love,
Jessie
PS: Here’s a Wookiefoot song for the road — it’s the studio and live recording of their song Activate :)
Studio Recording:
Live Recording: