Something Warm :: Last Week 9/24
Cojelo Suave - (Ko-hay-lo sue-ah-vey)
Growing up those words would come out of my dad’s mouth more than I can count.
Typically whenever my sisters and I were running wild at the house,
or doing the most with those two words he’d encourage us to chill.
As I spent time with my parents this past summer,
the words echoed throughout the house.
”Suave”
My dad would say to my niece and nephew when they would request
ice cream before finishing dinner.
”Cojelo Suave, Martin”
My mom would tell my dad when she felt he was in a rush.
”Cojelo Suave”
I’d tell the boys when they would run full speed into a half-baby-proof home.
cojelo suave - take it easy
Though the actual definition of cojelo suave means to “Pick it up softly”
Growing up in a Dominican household it is slang for take it easy.
A gentle way to tell someone to relax, chill, and slow down.
This past week I needed that reminder.
This week I needed that graceful nudge that said,
”slow down, be gentle to yourself.”
I’ve always disliked when people would tell me to “relax” during overwhelming moments.
It can come with the best intentions, but nobody wants to hear “relax” when they feel under pressure, overworked, and overwhelmed.
My initial response when folks would encourage me to do so was “HOW”
How do you rest, slow down, and take time to replenish when there are two-year-old twins running wild with so much energy, baskets of laundry needed to get done, emails racking up, dinner needing to be prepared, and to-do lists?
As I broke down this past week with my sleep-deprived two-year-old in my arms I realized that sometimes it’s not always how to rest, but reminding myself that I am worthy of rest.
For so long I believed that I had to work for rest.
That rest only came after labor.
But I was reminded mid-breakdown this week that:
the work never stops.
but that doesn’t mean we don’t either.
The laundry will continue to pile up.
People will constantly demand our attention.
Food will have to be prepared.
To-do lists will continue to have added tasks.
But we don’t have to work our way through burnout.
We don’t have to work our way through stress.
We can pause. We can rest. We can recharge.
We can honor the needs of our bodies and make room for rest.
Before we could “just relax” we have to come to a place where we release the burden of living in survival mode and receive the healing and rest that’s for us. We need to recognize that rest isn’t a reward for good work but a necessity to show up as our best selves.
These days, God is teaching me that I wasn’t created to live in survival mode.
I wasn’t created to put my need for rest and restoration aside for the sake of getting things done, or because “I can handle it.”
Rest is essential for the growth that is coming.
May this new season remind us of the beauty that is found in pause.
May we take time to create spaces of healing, soul care, and rest.
May we unlearn the lie that rest is a reward for good work
and remember that it is necessary for us to show up as our full whole selves.
From my book Cuidate ::
May you rest.
May you find pockets of relaxation.
May your soul be replenished.
Cojelo suave
today and every day following.
Encouragement for the Week::
Listen: A new song that I listened to this week
Choose You - Elmien
Reflect: Journal Prompts (Feel free to share in Comments)
- Do you believe you are deserving of rest?
- What is keeping you from resting today?
- What are three things you’d like to do this season that encourage you to rest?
Remember:
The work never stops but, that doesn’t mean we don’t either.
"May we unlearn the lie that rest is a reward for good work" really highlight how our society views rest, particularly in the American culture - as if we need to earn it. Thank you for the wonderful reflection!
When I think about God, the master creator, even He rested after creation was done. In following His example, we must rest – in fact, He commands us to do just that. In doing so, it gives us time to grow, replenish, and reflect. The world wants us so occupied that we can never rest. But in rest, we can truly appreciate our work.