Episode 34: Unresolved

This January weekend arrives in Neighborful Station with gray skies and steady rain, and a temporary reprieve from the cold that has dominated the winter so far. You are sitting in Cafe Frances at the Union Hall with one of the Jessicas, who has invited you to join her for a daylong gathering focused on rest, called Unresolved. The cafe is buzzing as usual, and you take in the sight of kids bouncing around the play area at one end of the room, burning off their cabin fever. You hear the espresso machine hissing and growling at the hands of the barista, who plays it like a musical instrument. You hold your cup of mint tea to your lips, feeling its reassuring warmth in your hands, and the fragrant steam fills your nose. You take a sip, enjoying the earthy flavor of the tea, and you draw in a slow breath.

Jessica brings her attention back to you, after a moment of reverie with her own latte, and says, “Shall we?” You say, “Yes, let’s go,” and the two of you make your way upstairs.

You have been on the third floor of the Union Hall before, during the holiday swap, but there wasn’t much time to look around. This is where all of the sewing shops and textile programs are located. But there is also a Cozy Room, at the opposite end of the floor from the elevators. The two of you step inside, and you see a motley collection of secondhand couches and armchairs, set up in a rough circle around the middle of the room. The walls are hung with tapestries and quilts that have been made here in the sewing shops. The room smells of soft and well-loved fabrics, a scent that suddenly reminds you of your grandmother’s house.

Positioned near the entrance are Dr. Sandra, who leads the Land Trust, and Dr. Skennen, the botany professor from the college in town. The two of them take turns embracing Jessica, and Dr. Skennen says, “Hello, You. We’re so glad you could join us today.”

You say, “Hello again, Dr. Skennen. I’m excited to be here.”

Dr. Sandra offers you her hand, and you feel the strength in her grip from many years of work in the greenhouses. She says, “It’s so good to see you again. We have a quilt for you. Are you ready to get some new kinds of rest?”

You say, “Yes, I’m really intrigued.”

Dr. Sandra reaches behind her wheelchair to a pile of quilts, and pulls the top one into her lap. She says, “Ooooh, this one is really lovely. It’s in the style of the Gee’s Bend quilts.” She smooths the quilt over her own legs for a moment, admiring the intricate pattern of bright colors, before she hands it up to you.

You and Jessica take your quilts, and find a comfy couch to settle into before the day begins. The two doctors close the doors to the room, and the attendees murmur with anticipation, looking around and smiling at each other. Dr. Skennen pushes a button on a panel by the doors, and the room fills with the sounds of the forest on the edge of town. She announces, “This is a live audio feed from the research station up on the ridge. Let’s get ourselves grounded in nature as we gather.” You unfold your quilt and spread it around yourself, so you can see more of the pattern. As you feel your legs warming underneath the quilt, you trace your index finger over the stitches that join the careworn strips of fabric. You listen to the gentle sounds of the winter rain falling on the trees, and you take a centering breath.

Dr. Sandra clears her throat and says, “There are many types of rest that are available to us, far more than just taking naps or getting a good night’s sleep - although we certainly do love those moments. Today we invite you to set aside your New Year’s resolutions, and the pressure to hustle. We invite you to make space, to find connection, and to create meaning. We will learn and practice several kinds of rest, to help you make a wonderful new year for yourself.”

Dr. Skennen adds, “In every kind of life, there are seasons of rest. The trees and plants around us rest in the winter. Even as we hear some forest life stirring, we know that most of the animals are hibernating. They don’t sign up for gym memberships in January, and they don’t vow to drop 20 pounds before the River Beach opens again.” At this, everyone laughs.

Dr. Skennen continues, “Within every day, week, and month, there are times when we should rest. You might find you need more space for yourself in your luteal phase. You might need more connection with nature when work gets stressful. Think of the types of rest available to you as a toolkit, and give yourself the freedom of choosing the right tool for each moment.”

You are paired up with another participant for an exercise on creative rest, and you find yourself collaging with Noah, the 9th grader you first met at the Homecoming game. When the two of you get started, his hands are busy as he rustles through a stack of old magazines, looking for images. But he stops himself, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. You follow his example, listening to the contented hum of the room around you, and you breathe deeply.

Noah opens his eyes and looks at you with a serious expression on his face. He tells you, “I get excited sometimes, and I make mistakes because I’m in a rush. But my math teacher told me this week that slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”

You say, “That makes sense to me.”

Noah starts clipping a picture from a magazine, and pauses, looking up at you again. He says, “I just thought of something. We’re doing Chili Bowls at the middle school next week. It’s a big dinner for the whole town, and the 9th graders come back to help. Will you join us for dinner?”

You say, “Yes, that sounds fun. Thanks for inviting me.”

Noah replies, “Yeah, for sure. It kinda feels like my job, somehow?”

You say, “I think that’s right. It is your job.”