You are not a machine. You are sacred. And you get to rest like it.
Rest is a Liberation Strategy
We’ve been taught that rest is something we must earn. That it’s a pause between "the real work." That we can only step back once everything is handled, the house is clean, the inbox is empty, the movement is sustained. But that’s supremacy culture talking.
Rest is not what we do after the work is done.
Rest is the work.
On Day 66 of 100 Days of Community, I’m inviting you to decolonize your body’s relationship with rest and remember that true resilience doesn’t come from pushing through—it comes from pausing.
“You cannot bootstrap your healing. You cannot even stay active in war without rest. Rest is how we survive.”
You Were Never Meant to Be a Machine
We’ve been taught that our worth is tied to what we produce. That rest is a luxury, a reward, a last resort. But what if rest is not what happens after the work? What if rest is the work?
Today’s micro-lesson invites us to reframe rest as an essential practice of liberation. It’s more than sleep or pausing out of exhaustion. It’s an intentional act that restores our capacity, regulates our nervous systems, and connects us to one another in care. In the same way we show up for organizing or protesting, we must also show up for stillness.
Today’s Three Takeaways
Rest is essential for long-term resistance.
Rest supports emotional and physical healing.
Collective rest builds collective resilience.
These are not just affirmations; they are strategic and somatic truths. And today, we go deeper into each one.
Unlock today’s embodied lesson to explore:
The full article includes:
Practical ways to bring rest into your home, work, and inner life
Prompts and practices to embody this lesson beyond today
Community invitations, including our collective Day of Rest on April 8th
Join us in building a world where care is the foundation—not the exception.
Need a scholarship? Always available—just email scholarships@desireebstephens.com. No explanation required.
Click below to step into the rest of the work, the rest of the truth—and the rest of the story.
