A few months ago, I entered three poems in a writing contest. The deadline for entry had been extended an extra few days, and I heard about it during that extended period, so I decided it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Then for months I waited for the announcement scheduled in January, wondering whether my work would make the cut. Today I received the email listing the winners, runners up, and finalists out of over 3000 entries. My name did not appear on any of the lists.

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Something I've been coming to realize lately is that you can be "productive" even when you're not actively producing anything. Resting, thinking, and exploring ideas can regenerate the soul and the body and prepare you for the tasks ahead of you in a future you cannot predict but which is purposeful nonetheless. While others rush from activity to activity, sitting and doing nothing is sometimes the most productive thing you can do. So when your body and mind tell you to rest, you can rest...