W.H. Davies - Leisure

These past few days have been most exhilarating, at best. Having the chance to be around people and doing useful things, both for others and myself, and taking up that chance, is a blessing greater than anything that I could have ever asked for, and I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity to pick myself up again.

Nevertheless, one must always remember to rest. Religions across the world have emphasized this and allotted at least one day in a week of seven for rest. The Jews have their Sabbath, Muslims their Friday (rest from work, at least - it's mainly for prayers), Christians their Sunday, and so on and so forth. Even science has proven that rest is essential for the body to the benefit of better health. So it is no wonder that humans, and even animals of every shapes and sizes, need some form of rest for rejuvenation and restoration.

Today's world seem to prohibit true rest. The world around us has evolved at an accelerated rate, and that acceleration is fast becoming exponential. We are constantly pressured to complete one thing or another, and when we are not doing anything, thoughts of immediate tasks and duties and due dates for uncompleted work fill our heads.Our lives seem to live for the next moment, often for the next day, and the extreme ones for the next decade! Sometimes, it is good to detach ourselves from all that, and just savour the moment, the hours, the days, spent for relaxing.

Hefty words aside, in my opinion W.H. Davies captured this importance for rest in his beautiful poem, Leisure:

What is this life if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care, 
We have no time to stand and stare.