May 9, 2024

You deserve pleasure.

You deserve an entire day where you stare at the sea or lay in the grass and don’t tell yourself your list of ‘shoulds’.

You deserve it.

You have already earned this, or rather simply by existing for this long in the world, you are worthy.

Can we stop thinking we need to ‘earn’ rest and relaxation? Surprise!! I’m referring to myself too.

I live in Italy, but I’m from the USA. And even though I’ve barely lived there for the past 15 years, I’ve still got a whole lot of America in me. Including an attitude towards work (not always, but it’s lingering in the recesses of my brain) that could be described as a mix between late-stage capitalism and protestant guilt.

Living between two cultures with very different attitudes towards pleasure and rest has warped my idea of what’s normal.

In my cross-cultural life these days, I’ve been hearing from a LOT of Americans that they feel guilty when they rest. I’ve heard it from strangers and my closest friends, too. It’s often admitted in a hushed voice. Like they feel guilty and they know they shouldn’t and they still do and they also wonder, maybe, if they *should* feel guilty.

So here’s your permission from the Italian seaside: You’re allowed to rest.

Cause guess what? A rested human is a better human to everyone around them. And rest might mean coming on a retreat (link in bio) or it might mean just giving yourself a five minute dance party in the middle of your work day. Or a ten minute yoga nidra. Or a piece of chocolate, just because. Treat yourself with love and tend to your pleasure. That’s all, repeat, repeat (for the rest of your life).