“I noticed that she used this phrase again and again: in sauna rather than in the sauna. She’s not talking about a building, a little pine shed with burning coals in the corner; she’s talking about a state of being.”
—Katherine May, speaking of a Finnish friend in Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
Yesterday I took a day. A whole day.
I went for a short walk, but other than that I did nothing but lie on my couch, read a book, and watch the Toronto Blue Jays and Tim Hortons Brier curling.
I don’t have a pine shed with burning coals or a cedar-lined sanctuary, but I spent the day in sauna, in the way of Katherine May’s friend.
That is something I almost never do. I’m always doing something.
It was glorious.
Today I feel restored, and that is the power of rest and retreat.
Somerton Smith 
I did that yesterday too. I cancelled stuff on my schedule and did what pleased me. It was a glorious day and I’m doing it more often!
The day made me realize that I don’t have enough nothing in my life – if you’ll forgive the double negative. I have to do it more often too.
This is such a lovely and inspiring article about taking a day of rest and retreat. It’s refreshing to read about someone embracing the power of doing nothing and finding restoration.
XOXO,
Kiddo Elliott
https://sweetdreamsguide.com/
Thank you. It was a beautiful respite I needed.
After months of crazy “doing” with my next book, I am looking forward to pockets of time to just “be.” I’ve come close to that last week with a deep-tissue massage — an hour of a caring masseuse working out the kinks and knots.
You inspire me, Arlene. I’ve been neglecting self-care. There is power in rest and retreat. 😀
I pre-ordered your book! So all your “doing” is starting to pay off. You can enjoy a little rest and retreat.
Huge thanks, Arlene! 😀
It must have been cosmic in sauna time yesterday. 🙂 I, too, spent the day puttering around, chatting with an old friend, just moving at my own pace. It was a lovely respite. Love your post and love the term, in sauna.
Wow, it was a trend on Tuesday. The full moon maybe? Who knows? Good for us, though!
What a wonderful way to be good to oneself, I love it! I once read of a company that as terms of employment required their employees to take a minimum of 2 weeks of continuous vacation a year. Their reasoning was that most of the time people take a day or two off to run errands, and not to be “in sauna” (I bet they would have used that term had they known about it!). And they want their employees to be empowered, like you said.
WONDERFUL!
I’m very good at being “on vacation” while I’m on vacation. At my cottage in the summer I walk, do yoga, swim and read and do little else. But I’m not so good at taking time during regular times. Between jobs and volunteer joys, I have a long to-do list and could always be doing something. I don’t take enough down time. It’s a goal to start taking more.
Good for you! I have a hard time doing that for a whole day. I must feel productive somehow. I loved that book Wintering.
Oh, I agree. It is hard to take a whole day. There is always something to do, isn’t there? But once I surrendered to it, I became one with my couch and rather enjoyed it!
I like that phrase – I became one with my couch! I was ordering new releases from the library tonight and noticed that Katherine May – author of Wintering, has a new book out called Enchantment. So I put it on reserve.
I work at a library, and I had Katherine May’s new book pass through my hands (on its way to someone else) this week. I made note to request a copy for myself!
I think you are a wise woman to take a day for yourself. I know I could use one, but can’t tell you exactly why I don’t do that. I’ve never heard the phrase in sauna rather than in the sauna. It’s a wonderful way to envision yourself.
I think my in sauna day was more a matter of running out of steam than wisely making the decision to rest. Either way, it worked!