My aim in writing is to stimulate the mind, rouse the heart, and stir the spirit. I want you to pursue your passions obsessively and unswervingly so that you may fulfill your every dream and desire. Working towards such ends may not always feel like work, so take care not to overextend yourself. Set aside time each day for rest. A talk with a friend and a leisurely stroll is preferable to facebook and “Angry Birds”. A relaxing shower is preferable to a beer (no matter how cold and refreshing it may be). And go to bed early enough to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep. I prefer 9 myself :)
Not only should you apportion a time each day for R&R, but also a day each week. I used to know an entrepreneur who worked at his business 7 days a week for 7 years. That’s 2,548 days in a row! Now, he did take off the occassional holiday simply because every store on his block was also closed, but for the most part it was a non-stop, one-man show. At the mere age of 41, he came down with cancer. No family history. No risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or overexposure to industrial pollutants. Though no one can pinpoint the culprit for certain, you can be sure that stress played a critical role. Fortunately, he has mostly recovered, but only after a year of bedrest! Can you imagine a whole year in bed? Even after a year, his doctor ordered that he only work part-time and only for a few hours at a stretch to minimize stress levels lest he relapse.
He worked alone because he did not want to spend money hiring someone for work he could do himself. Needless to say, he was forced to do so for the entire year he was away. He now knows that he shouldn’t have exhausted himself so completely, but what’s done is done. We cannot turn back the hands of time, no matter how ruefully we pine. What we can do is to remember the indispensable role that rest must play in our busy lives.
Just as taking a break between sets of weight-lifting actually allows the building of more muscle, taking time off to recuperate provides the vitality needed to work harder, play harder, and enjoy life more thoroughly. Remember to slow down, so that you may walk farther. To lie down, so that you may climb higher.
If you liked this, you might also like:
The Meaning of Thanksgiving
Choose to Take the Journey 
Aristotle says the Golden Mean (middle course) is the desirable path between two extremes. Yes, taking a break is important.
Yes, but it depends on what the “middle course” is. From 1-100, I think the sweet spot is somewhere around 80-85. I think the average person, by definition, operates around 45-55.
Great life lesson :)
I always look forward to reading all of your posts because they resonate deep within me – thank you for your words!
– Traci Kay
Thank you for your comment Traci. I absorb any and all compliments like a sponge :)
You seem like a very intelligent and aware person – thanks for allowing me to be part of your blogging world :)
You’re welcome, my bamboo princess. And you seem like someone who knows what she’s talking about ;)
Aw, thank you for the compliment :)
:)