Hello friend! It is so nice to be with you again after a couple of weeks off. We had a great time on our vacation – unfortunately a wee virus decided to come home with us, so this week is still dedicated to resting and healing. But I had promised to come back to you after two weeks, so here I am, with a short thought about self-care.

Everyone talks about how important self-care is, especially in these stressful times. In fact, there is a bit of a backlash at the moment against self-help leaders prescribing meditation and bubble baths as a response to structural injustice, overwork and burnout. There is no question that meditation and bubble baths are good things to do and will enhance your life if that’s your thing, but they are not a substitute for doing the work to make things better.

That having been said, self-care, whether it is a few minutes on the couch or a quiet walk in the park, or even setting boundaries with certain people, can be crucial for long-term health and well-being. We can only take so much, physically and emotionally, before we need to rest and recharge. 

I’ve mentioned before how the concept of Shabbat brings the idea that all of creation deserves to rest, as a good in its own right. It’s not a utilitarian idea that we are merely preparing to work just as hard afterwards, although it does help with that. It’s a very basic right of all sentient beings, human and otherwise. Merely by being created you are worthy of rest and self-care, the time to do the things that feed your soul and help you feel happy. This is by no means a given in our current society, so it’s important to be clear on it. 

Your right to rest and self-care is not contingent on your ability to work. It is an innate part of whom you were created to be.

I will be writing more about ableism and its pernicious effects in the coming weeks. In the meantime, enjoy your rest and self-care, and also enjoy whatever work and activity you may be part of. We are many-faceted beings, not just work machines, and sometimes we forget that important fact.

What is your favourite form of self-care? I’d love to know!