These are some beautiful commitments. Thank you for sharing them. Reading without a project in mind is so good for my soul, too. (And doesn't always happen often enough!)
Well, you got me to sit down and make my list. What my soul needs now: 1) a camping trip or two 2) baking bread once a week like my great-grandma 3) more vegetables 4) porch-sitting and relaxed reading 5) time with my grandkids without an agenda 6) drawing wildflowers or whatever catches my eye 7) a long weekend at Mt. Angel Abbey. Thanks for reminding me to make commitments to myself and honor them. Enjoy the rest of your sabbatical!
Love this entire post - as I do with pretty much every single thing you write here - but I never stop being reset by your framing of this kind of care as "commitments to myself." I love that language, especially compared to the striving language we usually assign to ourselves even in our rest! A commitment speaks of values, to me. Thanks for that quiet reminder this morning.
Thank you for this reminder to honor commitments to one's self. At my annual doctor's appointments in the last few weeks, I realized that I was not doing as well as I thought, or didn't think. I'm refocusing and lighting my awareness. Thank you for your words.
I so appreciate how you have learned to decide to change course, adjust goals, and relax in the unfinished moments and tasks. One of my good girlfriends says “let life do what it do.” Bad grammar but good theology. If I missed the mark, maybe it’s because I chose it but God didn’t.
I so love hearing your processes. Maybe you said the line about being tired from doing the things that drain instead of sustain. Sending you hugs for permission and mandate to do what will sustain you. ❤️You are desperately needed and having said that, you also must preserve you. ❤️
What a beautiful reminder to intentionally let items on the "to do list" park themselves towards the back of the shelf.
I enjoyed reading the phrase "dwell in relationship." I connected with this "sitting with" image, as well as "let any new ideas sit." What a beautiful invitation to pause!
Dr. Chanequa you always land right over here in my house and walk heavy and for this I am grateful. All of these resonate with me, but the thing most need to bring back into intentional practice is mindfulness practice. Thank you.
Pretty much all of these resonate, but this one in particular: “Wander in creativity and play.” It’s so tough to navigate the tension between the work we feel we must do, are called to do, for the greater good and (let’s face it) our own ambition, and the need for rest and creativity. This list is just what I needed.
May the remainder of the sabbatical weeks have you swimming in holy intentional REST
YES to all cap REST!
These are some beautiful commitments. Thank you for sharing them. Reading without a project in mind is so good for my soul, too. (And doesn't always happen often enough!)
I do better with fiction. But almost all my nonfiction reading has been project related lately.
Well, you got me to sit down and make my list. What my soul needs now: 1) a camping trip or two 2) baking bread once a week like my great-grandma 3) more vegetables 4) porch-sitting and relaxed reading 5) time with my grandkids without an agenda 6) drawing wildflowers or whatever catches my eye 7) a long weekend at Mt. Angel Abbey. Thanks for reminding me to make commitments to myself and honor them. Enjoy the rest of your sabbatical!
I love this!
Love this entire post - as I do with pretty much every single thing you write here - but I never stop being reset by your framing of this kind of care as "commitments to myself." I love that language, especially compared to the striving language we usually assign to ourselves even in our rest! A commitment speaks of values, to me. Thanks for that quiet reminder this morning.
Thank you! It’s funny because one of my intentions this week is to practice non-striving. That’s hard for a recovering perfectionist Christian!
Thank you for all of that!
I encourage you to rest! I encourage me to rest! So much resistance is ahead. We must rest!🥰
I’m realizing that resistance will be unending. So rest is not a luxury.
Oh blessed rest,it’s calling me as well. I’m resting- period 🙌🏽
Thank you for this reminder to honor commitments to one's self. At my annual doctor's appointments in the last few weeks, I realized that I was not doing as well as I thought, or didn't think. I'm refocusing and lighting my awareness. Thank you for your words.
I so appreciate how you have learned to decide to change course, adjust goals, and relax in the unfinished moments and tasks. One of my good girlfriends says “let life do what it do.” Bad grammar but good theology. If I missed the mark, maybe it’s because I chose it but God didn’t.
I constantly have to remind myself that I have a lot of choice and it’s okay to exercise it on my own behalf.
Thank you for prioritizing your invaluable self, Dr. Walker-Barnes, and thank you for sharing these generative thoughts with us.
Keep taking good care of your soul.
I so love hearing your processes. Maybe you said the line about being tired from doing the things that drain instead of sustain. Sending you hugs for permission and mandate to do what will sustain you. ❤️You are desperately needed and having said that, you also must preserve you. ❤️
What a beautiful reminder to intentionally let items on the "to do list" park themselves towards the back of the shelf.
I enjoyed reading the phrase "dwell in relationship." I connected with this "sitting with" image, as well as "let any new ideas sit." What a beautiful invitation to pause!
Thank you for these reminders
Dr. Chanequa you always land right over here in my house and walk heavy and for this I am grateful. All of these resonate with me, but the thing most need to bring back into intentional practice is mindfulness practice. Thank you.
Pretty much all of these resonate, but this one in particular: “Wander in creativity and play.” It’s so tough to navigate the tension between the work we feel we must do, are called to do, for the greater good and (let’s face it) our own ambition, and the need for rest and creativity. This list is just what I needed.