IWSG: Is 'Rest' A Four Letter Word?

  Happy Independence Day!  Fireworks, anyone?

Have a safe, fun-filled holiday :}


Welcome back!  Today is the first Wednesday in July, so it's time for our latest installments of Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh. 


I've heard my share of four letter words, I mean, really!  I was raised by sailors.  Ha.  But I'll bet there's one dirty little word lurking in your vocabulary that you find abhorrent!  A word so vile, so gruesome it leaves a lasting, bitter taste in your mouth just to utter the single wretched syllable.  What ever can it be? 

R.E.S.T.

That's right!  REST.  As an American - a type-A personalitied American who is extremely driven and task oriented - I tend to allow the challenge of the next hill to immediately replace the one I 've just scaled.  I'm excited to keep going, to conquer, to win, to achieve.  I love the sense of accomplishment completing a project ushers in. 

Then why don't I sit back and enjoy it? 





Good question.  I've been wondering on this myself.  And then it hit me!  I look at rest like a dirty, four-lettered, vile thing that will sap my ambition and steal my gumption.  I have allowed my Americanized thought patterns to confuse rest with laziness. 

The truth is we all need rest to recharge our imaginations.  I need that quiet time to let new ideas brew and ferment.  I found myself giving this advice a few times over the last week to others - but failing to take it myself.  So when I formulated my goals for the new ROW80, I kept this in mind.  I need to rest.  This summer is going to be my 'resting round'.  I'll write nearly every day.  I'll begin edits, revisions, typing...all those things that are on my 'exciting summits to scale' goals list.  But I'll do it at a slower pace.  No huge deadline looming over my head this round.  No pressure.  Just enjoyment.

Summertime is so fleeting.  I want to wring every last drop of glorious sandy-covered-goodness out of these weeks before the busy-ness of life intrudes on this 12 week haven.  All are welcome to climb aboard!   I want to look at the trees, feel the breeze against my skin, catch fireflies, and float in the pool as my boys beg me to watch 'the Navy Seal Swim'  or the 'Back-Flip-Into-The-Pool' (just one more time, Mom!)...to savor the lazy days of summer with my boys.  R.E.S.T.  Hmmm.  It does have a certain little ring to it...


Have A Great July, Insecure Writers -

 ~ Nadja