Convalescence

Over breakfast last weekend, with light beaming off the snow and into our kitchen, Victoria was telling me about a recent lesson at Arbor Vitae on the idea of convalescence, which is defined as the time it takes to recover or recuperate from illness or injury. Her teacher, a long time herbalist, noted that the amount of time it takes to recover from sickness (or time of convalescence) is equal in measure to the time we spend actually being sick. That rule of thumb, (i.e. equal measure recovery to illness) seemed to generally apply to any sort of injuries I have had in the past as well, whether it was a hamstring tear or even a slipped lumbar disc.

Curiously, I thought: what if we were to apply this logic more broadly to the effects our everyday life has on the body? Meaning, what if we were to take rest in proportion to effort, and slowness in equal measure to hurry? 

It may seem largely impractical based on our need to make money, raise children, exercise, cook, clean, and just generally get things done. But it seems apparent that it takes a time of convalescence to neutralize the ways in which speed, pace, and hurry may get lodged inside the mind and in turn, the nervous system and connective tissue. 

Amidst our efforts to pay our bills, keep fit, and fulfill familial obligations we must also make the time to meet ourselves where we are at and to listen inwardly with compassion, understanding, and love in order to reckon with what has accumulated in the muscles, ligaments, and nerve endings. 

When speed becomes a habit, we rush even when we have nowhere to go.

I hope to see you Sunday morning, where we will create space in the body and mind in honor of recuperation and recovery.