Rest Isn’t Earned

Rest Isn’t Earned

Photo by Aleksandar Cvetanovic on Unsplash

Capitalism taught you: Rest must be earned.

Work hard, then you can rest.

Be productive, then you deserve rest.

Exhaust yourself, then rest is permitted.

Fuck that.

Here’s what my chronically ill body taught me:

Rest isn’t earned. It’s required.

Like breathing. Like water.

You don’t earn the right to breathe.

You breathe because you need to.

Rest is the same.

Not a reward for productivity.

A requirement for survival.

You don’t have to earn it.

You don’t have to deserve it.

You just need it.

And needing it is enough.

Rest isn’t earned.

Rest is necessary.

Take it anyway.