What I Learned After Four Days Off: A Lesson in Rest, Presence, and Connection
I had the most wondrous weekend away with my younger brother. It was our first true sibling adventure—just the two of us—in so many years. I knew I was excited, but I didn’t realize just how much I needed it.
Not just the time to reconnect with my first friend, to learn about him as an adult and fall in love with the way he sees the world after all life’s twists and turns—but also, I needed to not work.
I realized after four days of not working that I couldn’t remember the last time I took time off that wasn’t inspired by sickness.
Ironically, I had planned to be productive on this trip. I told myself I’d buy in-flight internet for the first time and hammer out plans for newsletters and emails. But the universe had other ideas. The Wi-Fi on my Southwest flight wasn’t working. I was frustrated at first—and then strangely relieved. All I could do was relax. Watch some in-flight TV. Be still.
That unplanned pause became a portal to the kind of downtime I didn’t know I was desperate for.
We kicked things off with a visit to a favorite off-the-beaten-path restaurant. I struggled so deeply with not getting things done, while also wanting to just be present. It was a battle—moment by moment. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to open the computer or check emails. My whole being needed the power down.
I needed slow mornings to watch the sunrise without thinking about to-do lists.
I needed to stop tracking calories and stop worrying about meds.
I needed the freedom to hike through a state park and smile at the turtle crossing our path.
I needed the weird mall wander when nothing was open, just to window shop and be curious.
I needed the beach—and not to read or be productive—but just to be.
I was more "unproductive" during those four days than I’ve been in years—and yet, I fell in love with myself again. I saw my younger brother in a whole new light. We laughed at our early bedtime and our mutual joy of eating chocolate in bed while playing phone games. We were the happy “old people” eating dinner at 4 p.m., crushing crab legs while watching The Masters on his phone.
It was fun. It was healing. It was messy.
That time away cracked me open. It brought up the grief of missing my mom, the emotional weight of being a business owner, and the endless “doing” that can drown out being.
I didn’t meditate formally—but I watched waves crash while the sun crept up and sipped my latte.
I didn’t respond to emails—and the world kept spinning.
I canceled plans when I got home, just to snuggle with my cat and let myself feel.
I just… was.
I was Raschel without needing to dry my hair for dinner. Without makeup or heels because they “matched the dress.” Just me.
And I’m so grateful.
For the unexpected rest.
For the joy and the grief.
For chocolate in bed and crab legs at 4 p.m.
For the discovery that everything doesn’t need to get done right now.
Thank you to my wonderful little brother for a trip that shifted everything.
And no, I’m not bringing my computer on the next trip either.
