“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a
summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds
float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”

― John Lubbock, The Use of Life

That’s exactly what I had to do with my grief monster in tow. I had the amazing opportunity to stop life a bit and get off. I rented a place in Florida and became very quiet and still. I needed to begin to “shrink” the monster and I knew the next step was to have a change of scenery and slow down. I didn’t make many friends down there. I didn’t have many join me in my quiet place. I guess many would call it a sabbatical of sorts. I prayed. I read my bible. I read other helpful books and articles. I wrote and wrote and wrote. I cried (a lot). I laughed. I yelled. I whispered. I spoke “aha” out loud. I exercised. I ate well. I slept and then sometimes I didn’t. I walked the beach. Sat by the water’s edge and stared. I explored new places. I drove endlessly. I listened to podcasts. The monster shrank as I healed.

My lesson: Continue to do what I need to do to heal no matter what.