‘Rest In Peace’ Shouldn't be Reserved for Death

Hi! It’s Kelly, owner of Fit2Shine Studio, with a few thoughts on the term ‘Rest In Peace.’ I attended Erica’s yoga class this weekend and one of the songs she offered struck a chord in my heart. It made my eyes well up with tears in the most wonderful way while, at the same time, I also felt ready to get up off my yoga mat and go confidently into the world living each second with love, faith, compassion, and grace.

It got me thinking though. Why do we only say ‘Rest in Peace’ to the deceased?

Shouldn’t we be also be resting in peace in life? Shouldn’t we rest in order to actually live? Shouldn’t our lives be filled with peace? And shouldn’t we have the permission to ‘REST’ peacefully?

Is it possible that rest was originally intended to be natural in our human bodies and could be accomplished without the constant hum of the ‘shoulds’ and the to-do list? Why do we have to give ourselves permission to rest? Wouldn’t it be great if PEACE was actually our natural state instead of something that feels so unattainable? What exactly have we done to ourselves in this society of productivity and expectations that we aren’t able to rest? For many of us, ‘peace’ is the exception instead of the rule.

We often use the word ‘peace’ around the holiday season in relation to our faith or we think of it as a huge, unattainable destination. We chuckle when kids say they wish for ‘world peace’ or dare to imagine a world better than the one we currently live in, but doesn’t every living moment of peace matter toward the big, huge unattainable goal of world peace?

What about the peace we are able to offer others in the small, intimate moments? If you get through this day and do nothing else of value but to give someone a few moments of true peace, doesn’t that count for something? Or does it actually count for everything? Is it possible that it is actually the most high calling on our lives?

This blog offers nothing more than thoughts without any actual solutions or tips to achieve it. I guess my only real-life advice is to remember to RIP in your actual, every day, lived life instead of waiting until that life is over. Oh yeah… and maybe take some yoga ;) I know a place that would love to welcome you.

Here are some of the lyrics to the song, In Dreams by Jai-Jagdeesh, that lit up these thoughts in my mind and heart. A YouTube video is below. It’s worth a listen.

Know you are loved
Rest in peace
Dream your sweet dreams
'Til your soul is released

Know you are loved...
Rest in peace
Dream your sweet dreams
'Til your soul is released

Beloved child
My heart is yours
Beloved child
Go out and open doors
With your love
With your faith
With your compassion
With your grace
Oh, with your grace...

Beloved child
You are the light of the world
Beloved child...
Go out, spread light to the world
Be strong, be kind, be brave
Know your mind
Know that you're divine
Know that it's alright to be afraid…

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