Deep Rest for Resistance was the third event in our 20th anniversary series. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us!
During the two-hour gathering, we shared an overview of ROOT (Reclaiming Our Own Time), got grounded with a short meditation, and heard deep reflections on reclaiming our rest by our thought partners:
- Camille Cyprian, Chief Network Weaver at Rooted to Last
- Dora Palma, licensed clinical social worker, nurse, and healing practitioner
- Dr. Felicia Washington Sy, integrative healer & organizational well-being consultant
Key Takeaways
“Don’t wait. Don’t wait till you think you have time. Don’t wait till you think you’ve done enough to deserve to rest. Don’t consider it as something you have to earn. Take the PTO now. Take the vacations now. Do what you need to do. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity. And it’s also an act of resistance. If we’re going to be workers for liberation, if we’re going to be active in our change, we have to be able to stay in it, too. And part of that is realizing that rest is a part of this work.” — Camille Cyprian
“There’s an unspoken belief in our communities that if you’re not bleeding from the knuckles, you are not working hard enough. That life is a grind: ‘You have to suffer. You gotta work harder. You gotta bleed a little bit for it to be worthwhile. If you’ve got extra time, then you ain’t working hard enough.’
I certainly was raised like that. And I’m looking at the results of what this mentality has led to. [I have] two aging parents who are at the end stages of their lives. They grinded it out, and it shows up in their bodies. They have chronic health issues. It shows up as they age, it shows up in how they will pass. Life is meant to be this balanced mix. We both suffer and we have to have great joy. If all you have at the end of the day is a struggle, then you have missed something. And that is joy and peace—the kind that come with rest.” — Dr. Felicia Sy
“We often hear phrases like, ‘Latinos are such hard workers,’ as if it were the highest compliment. I used to take pride in that too, because it meant others noticed my dedication, my long hours of work, my skipped meals, my sacrifices… But now I see how that praise carries an expectation that we must constantly prove our worth through exhaustion. This narrative does not serve us. Exhaustion is not our heritage. My ancestors did not survive so I can just live disconnected from my body and joy. Something that we need to learn is saying no when we need to, setting boundaries and remembering that being well is more revolutionary than being overworked and tired.” — Dora Palma
“Please take time to pause. To take care of yourself, to ask for help from each other, to support each other, whether it’s through words or resources. We need you and your brilliance and your wisdom more than ever before.” — Repa Mekha, Nexus Founder & CEO
Our Vision for a Restful Future
We are leaders—Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. In our well-rested future, we reclaim our own narrative. We celebrate who we are and our rest practices. Our rest is deserved, intergenerational, well-resourced, and for all of us. We rest for our ancestor’s past, present and future. We are connected to ourselves, our people, our rest practices, our youth, and our elders. Our dreams are expansive and vibrant. Our loved ones rest together in fullness. We feel alive and joyful.