Today is my final day of five days off. In the beforetimes, taking this much time off usually meant getting on plane to go somewhere, preferably with a beach and an unobstructed horizon; this time, not so much. Still, I made a deal with myself that I would focus on getting some time outside, some time with a few good books, some time with my journal, and lots of naptime.

I’m happy to report: mission accomplished.

So here are some photos of my past few days. Also here: I had a few epiphanies over the past few days, resulting in what I call my laws of the motion of life. I’m no scientist, but until someone proves me wrong, I’m holding these as gospel.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

Newton’s First Law of Motion: A body at rest tends to stay at rest and a body in motion tends to remain in motion, in a straight line, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Karen’s First Law of the Motion of Life: A body at rest tends to stay at rest — which is good for a while, but then a body needs to get in motion. But a body in motion tends to stay in motion, and you need to be mindful of putting it back to rest before an unbalanced force knocks that body on its ass so hard it has no choice but to involuntarily remain at rest.

It took a bit of intention on my part to really rest at first — I kept thinking of things that I needed to do or take care of, but I’d force myself to ignore them in favour of going for a walk outside, or reading a book. But after the first day, resting came easily. And as someone who has tended to keep going until a cold or a flu takes me down and forces me to rest, it was a good reassurance that taking the time off was a good thing to do, since resting on my own terms is way better than resting to cure an ailing body.

This little guy kept passing me, and then after riding a few dozen feet ahead he’d stop, and then I’d catch up to him and pass him, and then after I was a few dozen feet ahead, he’d pass me again. Every time he passed, he’d say in his little boy vo… — This little guy kept passing me, and then after riding a few dozen feet ahead he’d stop, and then I’d catch up to him and pass him, and then after I was a few dozen feet ahead, he’d pass me again. Every time he passed, he’d say in his little boy voice, “On your left!” Some grown-up cyclist trained him right.

After listening to this episode of Brené Brown’s podcast, I bought this book and read it in its entirety during my lazy days off. What a beautiful work. — *After listening to* ***this episode of Brené Brown’s podcast****, I bought* ***this book*** *and read it in its entirety during my lazy days off. What a beautiful work.*

Newton’s Second Law of Motion: Force is equal to mass times acceleration.

Karen’s Second Law of the Motion of Life: Impact is equal to intention times movement.

This week, I shared a realization that sketching is a skill that can be learned, much like knitting or woodwork. To be clear, I’m not saying that we can all one day have works hanging in the Louvre, but simply having the nerve to start and continue practicing will result in you become a decent sketch artist. And it occurs to me that this “law” — intention x movement — likely works in almost every arena of life.

During my time off, I also received my second COVID vaccine — alleluia. In case you’re interested, I had the Pfizer vaccine and didn’t have any side effects with the first shot; with the second, I had all-over body aches, but nothing that Tylenol c… — During my time off, I also received my second COVID vaccine — alleluia. In case you’re interested, I had the Pfizer vaccine and didn’t have any side effects with the first shot; with the second, I had all-over body aches, but nothing that Tylenol couldn’t handle. They lasted about 24 hours, and I didn’t have any other symptoms — no fever, no chills, nothing. Here’s to the intention x movement of all the scientists who have been dogged in the fight against this virus, man.

Newton’s Third Law of Motion: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Karen’s Third Law of the Motion of Life: Same, actually — for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

This is true whether or not we’re talking about good or evil, darkness or light. So the trick is to be mindful of what actions we put out in the world — even in activism, as we bend that arc towards justice — ‘cause those laws of motion say they’re comin’ right back at us. I figure we never go wrong if we err in the direction of kindness and justice.

Kindness and justice.