Rest!

The Piano Instructor Consulting loves to rest.

Dang near every other post talks about how rest is soooOooo important.

Why the emphasis?

In the United States, we live in a culture of Prove Yourself All The Time.

If you're caught sitting at certain jobs, you can be fired.

I personally have been chastised by principals because during my prep period, I wasn't doing anything. When I explain I am doing a lot--I’m thinking through solutions for students as I gaze into the middle distance, in fact—I was actually told, “You need to look busy”.

Da fffffff…

Socially, there is such a stigma against naps. Naps! A good 20 minute nap in the middle of a busy day has prevented a lot of verbal beat-downs, I'm here to tell you the truth now.

Here’s another truth:

There are some administrators who enjoy insulting their teachers, disrespecting their staff, and keeping their teachers off-balance with gaslighting. No, this is not your imagination--it’s happening, and appears to be increasing. If you're dealing with this, your physical body is constantly under stress and is likely reacting thusly.

There were two recent teaching situations that felt like being in an abusive relationship because the cruelty was on full display, brazen in all the wrong ways. Leaving both the relationship and the school situations changed my nervous system.

In order for my physical and mental healing to occur, I had to rest.

This is not something you can skip.

Hear my pleas:

Deep sleep. Time to do nothing. Time to just think. Lots of water--drinking, bathing, steam sauna…all the ways. Laughter. Video games. Board games. Stare off into space. Look at clouds or plants or pets. Books. Massages. Stretching. Deep breathing.

* * * *

Right now, it’s 6:30 a.m. I'm sipping a Sumatra coffee, fresh beans ground at home, with hazelnut cream, served in a transparent mug. I might make another.

In the convection oven are baking two raspberry tarts that will have flaky crusts. Eight minutes left on the timer.

Carter, my demon cat, is feasting on canned ocean perch delight while purring. .

Bossa nova is playing softly in the background.

The house smells amazing.

In front of me is my piano, and the curtain is slightly open so that I can see the clouds change colors as the sun rises.

I'm draped in the softest of the soft velour blankets, wearing thick warm socks and the most comfortable hoodie and jogging pants ever. That I stole from my brother.

My life is busy. I'm a performer so I'm in front of lots of people. I'm studying. I'm working. I'm fencing. I'm working out. It's loud everywhere else.

So I know of which I speak.

Rest.