The world, in a word, is... noisy.
Lately, I sometimes feel unsteady, off my axis so to speak, and often I can’t identify why. Conversations with family and friends reveal they feel it too—a general unease. If you’re breathing, it’s not hard to understand. We’re all carrying an extra layer of stress on top of the usual work, life, and family concerns. Whether it’s politics, food prices, or the constant barrage of unsettling news, we are moving through unprecedented times.
Yet despite all of this, one thing remains true: we all still long for lives filled with love, meaning, and moments of joy.
For years, I’ve sought out practices to soften the impact of stress. Prompted by a high-stress career and several personal challenges, I’ve always been a seeker—interested in the complexities of the human experience and in finding ways to quiet the noise of everyday life. Whether it’s a weekend retreat, meditation, prayer, yoga, time at the beach, or a walk in the woods, since my twenties living in New York City—one of the noisiest places on the planet—these practices have helped me stay grounded and connected to myself.
In recent months, one of those practices has been a 30-minute somatic yoga class with Jessica Modad, whose spirit is like liquid sunshine. I joined to encourage myself to move more in the mornings after being laid off from a demanding corporate job. My morning exercise time had been replaced with very extended quiet time sessions, lingering over multiple cups of coffee on my deck. A lovely habit for sure, I needed that quiet time to rest and regroup after being chained to a desk for two years. But, I also needed to move regularly.
The class isn’t strenuous, but it’s exactly the pace I crave to start the day… restful, quiet, unhurried, and gentle—the opposite of what my mornings have been for the past few years. During a recent class, Jessica asked a profound question: “How would your choices change if you knew that rest is the fuel for your productivity?”
Tired of the rat race—never having been very fond of rats—I’ve been pondering that idea for nearly 20 years. A former overachiever, I now find far more joy in smaller things: the way morning light filters through the trees at sunrise, the song of birds returning to the nature preserve behind my house, or talking with a friend while lingering over a perfectly chilled glass of wine, and making curried shrimp stew after a long walk in the magnificent autumn-colored woods.
But after being laid off, while I certainly needed an income, I couldn't muster up the enthusiasm for the typical job search. All I wanted to do was sit on that deck. Perhaps I was burned out or depressed? Maybe something was physically wrong? I’m still not sure. But, what I do know is that I could not sign up for another professional situation that required me to sacrifice my mental or physical health to make money. I had been doing that for longer than I care to admit.
But here’s the question many of us face: most of us need to earn a living. And I enjoy my work—often, I love it. So, can we do meaningful work and live comfortably without sacrificing rest, health, relationships or so many of the other things we ignore in the name of success?
I used to think rest meant lying down or sleeping. It can be that. But it can also be routine small practices like Jessica’s short and gentle class, a walk on the beach, or listening to music that stirs the soul. (I currently have the soundtrack from Wicked on repeat.)
To me, rest is about pausing the relentless activity and pressure to produce something, softening into a quieter mode—no electronics, no demands. Even taking just five minutes to close my eyes and breath deeply can shift everything. And the crazy thing is, after stopping for a few minutes, I am so much more productive! It’s not just okay for us to take a beat, to pause on a regular basis—it’s essential to our well-being.
As I continue learning how to honor rest and integrate quiet into my life, I’m finding more evidence of how much it shapes and inspires everything—clarity, creativity, joy, productivity, and even the courage to make a big change, like starting Kellie Box Company.
I hope you find a few quiet minutes today and in the coming weeks and months… a few moments that feel like yours. (If you do, tell me about it in the comments below.)
This week’s journal prompts:
• Where in your life are you craving space and quiet?
• How might a bit of rest help you gain clarity about something in your life?
• Could you rest for five minutes before you start your day or begin a project? What do you notice?
Until next time. Thank you for reading. I am grateful you are here.
Take care of yourself.
Kellie
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