As a full-time artist and business owner, rest was once a foreign and forced thing to me. Between societal pressure, the hustle mindset, and my own over achieving personality, it was hard to change my thought process and learn to look at it as a necessity as opposed to just an option. Rest is not surrendering to a type of weakness. It is vital to refresh, regroup, and regain strength that rest gives. It is key to any and all success I’ve had in my career and life, as it has given me the clarity I need to fuel my evolving mind, creativity, and work ethic. I recently read these words: “This journey was not meant to be taken without setting your bags down and stopping to rest for a while…” It is still sometimes hard for me to remember to pause at rest stops, but my journey will always be waiting for my best self when I’m ready to pick back up. - Raven Armstead