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Posts by Lori Roach

Lori writes about the quiet practice of slowing down—finding presence in ordinary moments, especially outdoors. She believes that stillness isn’t something you earn after productivity; it’s something you practice in the middle of a regular Tuesday. When she’s not sitting on a blanket in the park, she’s writing about why more of us should be. You can find her work at mindfulpicnics.com.

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Why Rest Should Be a Priority, Not a Reward

“In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.” ~Pico Iyer, from his TED talk “The Art of Stillness”

It was a Tuesday in late September, the kind of afternoon that feels borrowed from summer. I had a work deadline at 5:00. I went to the park anyway.

I spread a blanket on the grass, unpacked a little cheese and some fruit, and poured tea from the thermos I’d filled mostly out of habit. I had a book in my bag that I never opened.

For two hours, I sat outside in the middle …