Sleep Deprived.
An illustrated poem.
Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less, wrote that rest is anything but a gift:
"Rest is not something that the world gives us. It's never been a gift. It's never been something you do when you've finished everything else. If you want rest, you have to take it. You have to resist the lure of busyness, make time for rest, take it seriously, and protect it from a world that is intent on stealing it."
This hit me particularly hard because I haven’t taken the rest I’ve needed for a while.
Personal Note (cont.): I wrote the poem above on Tuesday. After sitting with it for a while, I decided the cost of my late-night sessions was too much and started going to bed on time. Over the next few days, I found myself more present and rested than I’d been in a couple of months. I also realized how focused I’d been on doing rather than being lately.
Looking back on things, I believe my late-night TV watching sessions mindlessly consuming anime and Jimmy O. Yang standup were a poor attempt at slowing my tired mind down. But that’s not where rest is encountered.
Rest is found in the rebellious acts where work ceases and our minds, bodies and spirits are refreshed.
What’s after success?
From “I’m a Carpenter AND a Writer” by .
Here I learn to be.
From Cut Deep by .
Practice takes mistakes.
From 10 things I’ve learned after finishing my first graphic novel by
This is my first illustrated newsletter. A big thank you to for encouraging me to try it out (months ago)! You can find her latest illustrated poem here.
wrote this powerful essay and poem on what getting a lineup means for Black men. As a kid whose dad also lined him up, I felt seen reading Cole’s piece.
Thank you for reading Found Notes. If you’d like to support this creative endeavor you can become a paid subscriber, take me on a coffee date or purchase a “Creative Juice” mug.
Oh, I hear you loud and clear :) and feel much the same….. it also feels that by consuming someone else’s creativity, I am neglecting my own. I am keeping my mind from running free and wild to discover and explore new opportunities for myself. I discovered that in order for me to let that happen, rest is essential.
First of all, I LOVE the illustrations. Just so good, I encourage you to keep that up!
Secondly, rest is a requirement that is too easy to ignore. I have a notification in my phone that goes off every night at 10pm that says "turn it off. Shut it down." I can't be trusted to go to sleeton my own otherwise. I have to remind myself to do it. And when I listen, it makes a huge difference.