Every human being deserves the right to take a rest and breathe.
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
What does it mean to break, rest, or take a breath?
To rest means to pause physical or mental activity so that our body and mind can rejuvenate. It’s not just about sleep—it includes short breaks, quiet moments, moments of reflection, or even simply doing nothing at all. In a world that often celebrates constant productivity, the simple act of pausing has become radical.
Why is rest important?
Rest restores our energy, helps recharge the body, and builds endurance. It improves focus, reduces mental fatigue, sharpens thinking, relieves stress, calms the nervous system, and eases anxiety. Importantly, it protects us from burnout, especially during intense work or emotional strain. Rest also plays a powerful role in healing and recovery—our bodies repair themselves better during rest. Moreover, it boosts creativity—a relaxed mind often discovers better ideas.
In short, rest is not laziness; it is essential care for our body, mind, and emotions.
The Memory of Restful Summers
I still remember those childhood days when I used to study at the main primary school in Moro, and then came the summer vacations in June and July. What joy they brought! The school benches were stacked on top of one another, signaling two months of freedom. Back then, my mode of transport was the back tire of a motorbike—wherever I went, that tire and its little rider (me) went together. I’d finish my holiday homework in just a week. After that, it was nothing but relaxation.
The point is, even back then, those two months of rest during childhood felt wonderful—and were very much needed. So why wouldn’t we need it even more in our youth and adulthood? Why wouldn’t we enjoy it now?
Europe’s Pause: A Lesson in Well-being
This entire thought came to me recently here in Europe—specifically Sweden—where the annual summer holidays have begun. These are not just school holidays, but also holidays for offices, where work slows to a near halt. Developed countries pay great attention to the well-being of their citizens, especially their health and happiness. During these vacations, monthly salaries are even higher than usual, so people can spend openly on themselves and their children.
In fact, in many developed countries, people say weekends are meant for themselves and their children. And during these month-long holidays, they take that idea even further, spending the entire month with their loved ones.
During this time, most people head out for travel. Whether it’s within their own country, nearby nations, or even far-flung destinations, travel becomes a top priority. Airports are crowded, cities are buzzing, and faces are lit with joy—the joy of discovering a new world, spending time with family, gaining new experiences, trying new cuisines, and meeting new people.
Sometimes Rest Reveals the Truth
A curious thing happens, too—some couples, after traveling together, end up separating. Perhaps the journey reveals sides of each other that they hadn’t noticed before, which makes them reconsider their relationship. Some may feel it’s better to just breathe alone, or to separate entirely.
People come and go in our lives—some stay, some disappear. A person must have enough strength to say goodbye to those who leave, to welcome those who arrive, and to walk away from jobs or professions that no longer bring meaning or joy. Sometimes, taking a rest and breath isn’t just a short pause—it can be a permanent change. Life is full of fairs and festivals, and they will keep coming and going.
In a World of Hustle, Rest is Resistance
Modern society constantly pushes us to be productive—to do more, achieve more, earn more. In this race, we often forget that our worth is not tied to how much we produce. We are human beings, not machines. Mental health challenges like burnout, anxiety, and depression are rising worldwide. They are signs of an exhausted world gasping for rest and breath.
Taking time off isn’t selfish—it’s necessary. The mind needs silence to sort its thoughts, just as the body needs sleep to repair its tissues. When we deny ourselves this pause, we aren’t being strong—we’re being reckless with our own well-being.
The Digital Trap: Always “On”
The rise of smartphones and social media has added another layer of exhaustion. Even when we’re physically away from work, our minds are rarely free. We’re constantly checking emails, scrolling through timelines, comparing lives, and absorbing endless information. True rest requires boundaries from the digital world. We must learn to be present, not just available.
Sometimes, the best kind of rest is turning the phone off, stepping outside, and watching a sunset. The digital world can wait; your peace of mind should not.
Nature: The Original Healer
If there’s any place where rest feels natural, it’s nature itself. The rustling of leaves, the sound of flowing water, the scent of earth after rain—these are not luxuries, but necessities. Walking barefoot on grass, sitting quietly under a tree, listening to birds—these acts ground us, slow us down, and reconnect us with our essence. Nature reminds us that rest is part of every cycle. Even the Earth pauses between seasons.
Redefining Happiness
Happiness looks different in different societies. In Sindh, happiness could be as simple as the electricity coming back, or having enough food for two meals a day, or the water motor running without getting stuck. Happiness is coming home safely, or having peaceful neighbors and honest relatives. In such conditions, peace and stability are luxuries in themselves. Hopefully, these joys will fully return to us once our problems are resolved, when people move from simply surviving life to truly living it.
Let’s Take a rest and Breath – For Real
So, what I mean to say is: whatever we are doing—let’s take a break and rest. Let’s take a break and breath. Let’s break and try to explore new dimensions of life. The real taste of life lies in knowing ourselves. And knowing oneself isn’t possible in chaos and noise. For that, we must slow down and breathe. Only then will we begin to understand the meaning, purpose, and value of rest and life.
To pause is not to quit. It’s to prepare. It’s to listen to your own heartbeat, to the stories you’ve missed, to the child within you still dreaming. Let us permit ourselves to rest and breathe—not just air, but time, love, space, and silence.
Let’s take a rest and breath. And in that breath, let’s find life again.
Read: Understanding the Shift in Friendships
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
