Energy and Hidden Processes

This is a photo of what used to be our herb pot. The herbs have since taken root and been transplanted into the ground. All you see when you look at this image is sticks and dirt in a pot. What you do not see is the seeds germinating, growing, pushing their little shoots out, to eventually burst through the surface of the soil and bless the world with their beauty. Though it is a principle most of us learn very early in school, I'm sure that many of us don't stop to think about all of the energy being expended in processes like this. I know I didn't, until recently.

As you know if you've been reading my blogs or following me via Facebook or Twitter, I had surgery back in January. The surgery went great. The recovery went great. I feel better than I have in months, now that I've recovered. Thing is, it was my recovery from the surgery that brought my mind back around to the little things, like seeds germinating beneath the soil.

As I recovered, I found I did not have the energy to create my art--even sewing, which I normally find very relaxing--was too much effort. I could not focus enough to blog or sketch or read books. I spent my time instead going through the tons of magazines I have kept over the years. This is not a bad thing--I did empty out an entire magazine file (at least 20 magazines.)

...In any case, I found myself thinking about this and wondering why, even in my second week of recovery, I could not muster the energy to work on any of my projects. After all, art is not known to be physically strenuous (most of the time, anyway.) Sewing relaxes me. Going through paper and fabric inspires ideas...But what occurred to me was that I did not have the energy for any of those things, because my body was using that energy to heal itself. My energy was focused inward, on becoming physically whole again...on rebuilding my immune system...on re-balancing my hormones...on all kinds of things I could not see happening.

Long before my surgery, I knew to set aside my art projects if I was very tired. It's reasonable and normal to experience ebbs in one's energy, and at those times, it is wise to just stop and give your body what it wants: REST.

Next time you feel drained of energy and can't seem to create, just stop. Check in with your body. What does it need? (Sometimes, we can be sick and not even know it.) Take a day off now and then. Your work will be better for it, and so will your life!

Peace.