Why Rest? Why Seven?

E63: Rest & Recap 9 -Thanksgiving; Our tradition is in the thanks, not the turkey.

I thank you for your presence in my life. And for the motivation and joy you bring into it. I’m surrounded by a diverse circle of dynamic, inquisitive minds eager to deal with life’s complexity in a respectful way.
Karena

---

What is a “Rest” edition?

There may be some new members of Tribe Tilt wondering what the heck these Rest editions - every seventh - are all about. They are an opportunity to rest and reflect back.

The genesis of the Rest editions

I was mentally on fire but physically tuckered out after my first Write of Passage (WoP) sprint a year ago. I’d produced six newsletter editions in as many weeks. I’d published a book and was working on the second. I was out of gas. Surely, I couldn’t be ceding my streak - not when I was just starting out?! (Why is the streak important? asked Kelly. Will link when I have that answer.)

So I decided to borrow from some other programs and do a reflection edition. For a number of reasons:

• I wanted to figure out how to make my newsletter a sustainable activity. For me. That meant not burning out, which meant pre-planning my “recovery” time.

• In the Learning Loop chapter of the decision-making book I’ve published, I stated “Experiential Learning is where theory meets reality. It is where we learn by reflecting and doing.” Got to walk that talk.

• Rest is crucial. We need the space to subliminally process what came before. Just as our minds need REM sleep. In the words of Matthew Walker in his Sleep Masterclass (from my notes) “… take the information we have been learning during the day, integrate it, associate it. REM sleep will seek out and test specific connections between the recent information that you've acquired and the back catalog of information that you've developed across your lifespan. As a result, we can divine creative solutions to previously impenetrable problems that we couldn't solve when we're awake.”

I want to create the best conditions for “The best idea can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.” So, I’m inviting our community to look back through the past editions and reflect on what impacted us most. Search for ahas, connections and solutions. Rest and reflection are key 21st-century skills in our busy-getting-busier lives.

Why seven?

No idea. But you got to wonder - what is it with rest and sevens?

• Seventh inning stretch

• “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:2. If it’s good enough for God, why do us superhumans think we can manage without rest?

• Each of the major religions and older civilizations folded in days of community and rest. I wonder why they all follow that pattern? What is this generational wisdom of ancients? In a 24/7 world where we measure the difference between a gold and silver Olympic medal in 0.001 seconds, is rest a luxury we can afford?

Want to learn more about rest? Explore any one of the previous rest editions (every 7th). Let’s use the comments and DMs to explore this idea further if it is of interest to you.

---

Digest of the past few issues:

The moment when I go back and connect the dots between my essays, your questions and comments. What connections and themes do you pick up on?

I want to thank the community that is coalescing in Tribe Tilt. I was the humble recipient of so much love and care from all corners of this earth - on the passing of my uncle, and my first run-in with Covid.

GRIEF was a big part of this past cycle. A reminder of how tenuous our time on Earth really is:

• E59 Give them the best of you, not the rest of you — was a tribute to my uncle who passed away a month ago. But another deeper message was to time box our days so that our loved ones get the best, not tired, parts of ourselves.

• E60 If death were to meet me tomorrow — What are you waiting for? “We don’t have a date stamp tattoo’d” really resonated with a number of people in comments including those on LinkedIn, Twitter and email. Make the difference only you can make.

FUTURE OF WORK (FoW) and 21st-century skills life strategies:

• E58: Dinosaurs, BTS and K-conomics — we need ways to transition out of an industrial era. Has South Korea hit on a possible model?

• E62: Is eSports a Career Option? — explored the pros and cons of new and expanding industry. (As my Covid edition, check this out for a range of flu remedies crowd-sourced by all of you!)

RAISING FUTURE-READY LEADERS:

• E57: To Parent Scared ... or with Courage — discussed the special courage it takes to raise the next generation of leader.

CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY:

• E61: Why did the Humans go Extinct — This was a collection of five climate-related essays written by my peers in the WoP class. I was stunned by the positive response. So many comments and personal emails! I saw so many new connections being made - to the discussion and between individuals. 😄

Looking to share this newsletter with a friend? This edition gives them the gift of seven in one!

---

It is Thanksgiving Thursday in the USA. And we’ll be celebrating with a delicious salmon here in Canada. It is harks back to the first time we spent Thanksgiving away from NYC, and (as part of our round-the-world journey) on Karon beach in Phuket, Thailand. Just four weeks before the 2004 Tsunami wiped out the area.

Our tradition is in the thanks, not the turkey.

Laila - you asked for another Thanksgiving essay!

Leo Ariel

, your postcard On Tradition reminded me of this post. That Thanksgiving in Thailand was the Loi Kratong festival, a magical time of floating lights and gratitude. DM me if you want to read/hear more about our round the world journey with young kids.

---

Stay healthy. I’ll see you next week.
Karena