Hit the pause button

Good morning.

My mobile phone rarely leaves my side. Notifications are silenced, but its presence alone puts me slightly on edge. When it’s out of my sight, I can feel my mind and body start to relax. I have message notifications silenced so I can check on my schedule, but I still feel the constant tug of my perceived need to check for urgent information.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went for a day out and half-way into our journey I realised my phone was at home. There was no time to go back and retrieve it, so I had a decision to make—stress about the messages I might be missing, or focus on the present and enjoy the day. I chose the latter and we had a wonderful time on the coast without phone distractions. We truly had a day of rest.

It’s easy to get sucked into a perceived need to check and respond to every call and message, just like we might be compelled to fill every waking moment with activity or distraction until we have no time left to rest; yet that constant anticipation and focus deprives us of appreciating what is right in front of us.

For the Jewish community, today is Shabbat, a day of rest and spiritual recharge. Shabbat is the one day of the week that provides us with an opportunity to disentangle from our daily demands and focus on our blessings. It can be a powerful invitation for any of us to “hit the pause button”, take a breath, and enjoy.

May we all set aside time in our week for rest and renewal, enabling us to disconnect from everyday concerns and be fully present with nature, our friends, our family, and ourselves.