Among the many peculiarities of Victorian society that have gone out of use is the practice of convalescence. People who were sick, at risk of becoming sick, or had just undergone medical treatment would stay in a countryside or seaside home for several weeks or even months to recover their health. It was thought that fresh air, sunshine, nutrition, and rest, with a generous dose of time, were what patients needed to recover their strength and well-being.
I’m not sure why we stopped doing this. Perhaps it was a medical model that shifted to focus on eliminating infections and prescribing pills, perhaps it was a cultural emphasis on productivity, or perhaps a “work hard, play hard” attitude made even our vacations active and exciting.
In any case, convalescence is a good idea, and it’s too bad it went out of practice. I believe in living in a way that cultivates virtue and excellence, and while we know what excellence looks like in the context of physical strength, intelligence, and integrity, what might excellence look like applied to rest? In the face of depression and recovery from a restrictive eating disorder, what might resting well be like for me? For so long I’ve pushed through and prioritized achievement over well-being, I don’t know how to attain the rest my body and mind so desperately need.
So that’s why I’m entering this season of healing. There’s a certain paradox about it– actively abstaining from activity, setting out each day to do very little– but I am willing to embrace the absurdity even though it means postponing my education and dreams by a year.
How do you balance rest and activity? How do you rest with excellence? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Thoughts of That Single Individual 