Let It Be Easy
A case for rest when the world is testing us.
By Shannon Siriano Greenwood
I used to think of growth as a struggle. In my mind, I was constantly pushing against the elements like a flower erupting from the earth after being buried deep down in the cold months before. Or reaching with outstretched arms and on tiptoes for the next rung of the ladder I was climbing. If I wasn’t pushing myself to the maximum, was I really growing at all?
With the news of Roe vs. Wade being overturned by the Supreme Court, I am reminded of my need to reserve my energy for the things matter. Sharing women’s stories and being an advocate for women’s choice is more important that my need to prove myself to anyone.
As I’ve continued to explore (with curiosity) my ambitions, my motivations, and my desire for growth, I realize I had it all wrong. I am growing whether I am pushing or not. I am learning from mistakes and successes, from those around me, those who came before me, and those coming behind me.
I have a choice, to keep the pressure on, or let my foot off the gas once I’ve found the direction in which I am headed. This mantra, “let it be easy” is a way I remind myself that I can do better work in the world when I am not testing my capacity.
In order to do the challenging things that need to be done, I must find ease in as many places as I can.
*Edited from original article in Rebelle Magazine
