Our Mom is a champion napper. For as long as I can remember, Mom would head up the stairs in the early afternoon to lie down. She would emerge from her bedroom precisely 20-25 minutes later, often declaring “That nap saved my life!”
I honestly felt pretty bad for poor Mom that she had to take a nap every day – I mean, who wants to nap?? What a depressing way to spend a chunk of your day!
Then I became a mom to a spirited 20 month old and a sweet 4 month old…and I just woke up from a 20 minute nap today that did, indeed, feel like it saved my life.
What seemed sad and lethargic to me as a kid is now absolutely delicious.
Before Bobby and I permanently settled in Milwaukee, we used to chase the sun North and South for his golf career. He’d work at courses up North during the summer and then we’d drive down to Miami where he’d work in the winter. (We've had more addresses than I can even keep track of. 😅)
Side note: this nomadic lifestyle was a huge reason that Tiny and Snail came to be. It was difficult for me to have any sort of traditional job because I knew we’d be packing up in 6 months. I started a blog and sold hand-painted cards on Etsy since I could do that from anywhere.
Eventually though, my wrists started to give me trouble with all of the detailed painting. That’s when Leah stepped in and said, “Why don’t we team up and start a card company that we can actually scale instead of you selling one hand-painted card at a time?” That phone conversation turned out to be life-changing. 🥹
Anyway, for years, Bobby and I were gold-medal road trippers. It was during this time that my Uncle Patrick shared a piece of wisdom that I still think about. Like our mom, Uncle Patrick is also a champion napper (I guess it runs in their family?).
Before one of our lengthy road trips, Uncle Patrick encouraged us to pull over to a rest stop and shut our eyes for 5-20 minutes. Even if we couldn’t spare hours to sleep, he firmly believed that allowing our brains and bodies to slow down for just a few minutes could make a significant impact for our safety on the road.
I recently wrote an email to him to check that my memory was correct on all this. I love what he wrote back and graciously said I could share it with all of you. :)
From Uncle Patrick:
About brief naps, your recollection is correct. When I was driving a school bus I’d often stretch out on the seats, my torso on one side of the aisle, my feet on the other side, sometimes for as few as 5 minutes. When I had time I’d often rest for 20 or 25 minutes.
Once, believe it or not, I lay down for a 2-minute nap, which kept me alert for the next hour until I could grab another 40 winks.
One of the essential tricks for me, of course, was to be sure I had set the alarm on my phone properly so that I could relax fully, knowing there was no danger I’d oversleep.
On a personal note, our grandsons, when they were little, started calling a “cat nap” a “Bobcat nap”. And that’s the term Auntie Lucille and I have been using ever since.
Why is the owner of a card company dedicating an entire newsletter to naps? I guess it’s because Leah and I believe in the power of small actions to help make us healthy and whole, individually and collectively.
I have to think this world would be a more sane, compassionate place if we all were taking 20 minute naps and not chronically sleep deprived. (The difference I feel in my day when I’ve had 8 restful hours of sleep versus an interrupted sleep? MONUMENTAL.)
I think about other small but impactful activities that can make a big difference:
- penning some heartfelt words into a card
- taking a quick walk to the mailbox and getting some fresh air
- cleaning the bathroom so the sink and mirror are sparkling again
-
eating a couple scoops of peanut butter when your body is desperate for protein
Little jolts of rest and care that ripple out into the greater world.
My hope for you (and me!) this week is that we can slow down, even if it’s just for a brief pocket of time. Shut your eyes and take a 20 minute nap – or even a 2 minute nap if that’s all the day allows for. Turn off your phone and write a card, uninterrupted. Be kind and soft with your glorious self.
Sending love and gentleness, today and always.
PS. Are you a napper? Are there other practices you have that make a huge difference for your sanity and well being? I’d love to read about them in the comments. 😘
20 comments
I’ve been napping in the afternoons for absolute ages. Admittedly, (usually) longer than 20 minutes. (Hey. I get special dispensation for having a congenital heart issue).
My daily dilemma is:Will this outfit be comfortable to nap in later? It’s the little things in life.
I recently sent a good friend, your Time to Rest card (she had Covid, followed by the Flu) as she has a restless …always in motion nature. She really appreciated the card and sent me a picture of it propped on a small table.
I treasure your cards and need to get on with writing out a friend in the neighborhood’s Birthday card for tomorrow. The dilemma being, which one of your cards will I use? Hmm. After my lie down this afternoon, I’ll decide.
I’m pro nap! 😴 Great blog subject! 😊
Love a quick nap and a short trip of 5-10 minutes outdoors- I hug our huge Ponderosa & then lean back on its strength – observing Life in the backyard – listening to the bird melodies- delighting in the dance of the clouds while breathing in the sweet aroma of Life. 🌿
Thank you for your tribute to “The Nap” – so pleased u were able to capture one.☮️
This is a thought-provoking post! It made me recall that my dad was a napper and that I loved seeing him peacefully lying down on the family room sofa for a half hour on the weekends. He looked so content. Thank you for sparking this memory, Snail! I am not a napper but your mother, uncle, and you may have convinced me to try taking a “bobcat nap” after a night of restless sleep. Thank you for sharing this wisdom.
Your blog “saved my life”. I had viewed my Mom’s naps as never-to-do — turned out, she napped because her brain was diseased and she just couldnt function w/8 kids, dying a year later when I was 14. But God’s new path for me is miraculous — hard, but i’m here at age 71. Ready to go nap, and then fill in one of your beautiful cards and walk it to the mailbox!
Thank you, bless you for you & your Uncle sharing.