The work we are given never ends. This is true whether one is raising a child, running a business, building a new project, tending to a garden, or growing personally. In the midst of the weight that each of these pursuits may carry, we would be good to remember the cycle.
The cycle of stories, of nature, and of life. That is there is a beginning, middle, and end to all things. Even the smallest of tasks starts with a recognition of need, the act of executing and fulfillment, and finally rest and reflection on the task completed.
In the current pace of many cultures we often are robbed of this final area, yet rest and reflection is important. Exceedingly so in a society which is over stimulated, and fraught with need. We often wait until holidays, special occasions, or forced time off (illness or injury), to experience rest and reflection. But why wait?
Burn out is real, and unless we honor our own cycles (in our days, weeks, months, and years) we will continually hit the wall. We may defend our work ethic, thinking we are increasing our capacity and working towards greater productivity. Don’t get tricked. Greater capacity and productivity should be a consequence of greater health. Not the other way around.