An Ode to Creative Rest
A Poem & a Birthday Wish
Earlier this week, I shared a poem on Instagram.
It was a half-confession, half-plea.
After reading it, other creatives reached out to say how it spoke to them — how they knew exactly what it felt like to LOVE how their brains worked (mysteriously, whimsically, zealously), but simultaneously FEAR the blood-sucking tendencies of that insatiable instinct to interpret every micro-observation in the world into a work of perfect-never-done-before-art.
Then, a multi-hyphenate-creative-friend, Rebecca Hass, messaged to say that it resonated with her too — and that she has been thinking a lot about her own need for rest (and how artists, musicians, and other creative-types share a particular avoidance of it).
In fact, she published a piece on 8 different types of rest (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, social, sensory, creative, & financial), with prompts to help her fellow musicians and artists examine which type they might need — then take it.
For example, for the category of creative rest, she prompted readers to ask themselves: “Do I feel squeezed dry and devoid of ideas? Do I need a change of scenery to gain fresh inspiration?”
…to which I answered, actually — no.
Rather, I feel like I can’t find the brakes on my creative vehicle — that a triplet of ideas are being born every second and I’m not able to separate the good ideas from the bad ones (nor feel satisfied in only being able to pursue the ones I have capacity for).
Instead, creative rest (for me, in this moment) feels like being present in my surroundings instead of letting my brain to spiral into idea-building at every inspirational crossroad.
A Poem
An Ode to Creative Rest
By Vanessa Li
it dawned on me recently
that your whimsy comes at a price.
your curiosities take me out of the present,
and cause me sleepless nights.
every song unlocks a story
every cloud a lesson on form
every building the setting of a novel
every sourgrass grown to be worn.
it dawned on me recently
that you are blessing and a curse,
your attention to inspiration – everywhere
makes it impossible to immerse.
so, dear creativity –
please hear me when I say
you are my favorite running partner
whom I jog with everyday
but sometimes I cannot breathe,
so slow down, if that’s okay?
A Birthday Wish
“’Ichi-go ichi-e,’ the [Japanese tea] master told me...It roughly translates to: ‘one meeting, one moment in your life that will never happen again.’
We could meet again, but you have to praise THIS moment. Because, in one year, we will have a new experience. We will be different people...bringing new experiences with us because we are also changed.’”
― Priya Parker, “The Art of Gathering”
The last thing I’ll leave you with today is a birthday wish 😇 (I turned 30 earlier this month).
And, as someone who does not typically do much for their birthday, I went all in this time — because this year was absolutely transformational.
To honor myself this season, I:
gifted myself a photoshoot with my talented friend & fellow creative: Gretchen Robards;
planned an intentional gathering called “Never Again - Just Like This” with my closest friends that celebrated our lives together through storytelling, art, & connection;
co-hosted a self-defense workshop with a local Indonesian martial arts studio (Studio Naga) and invited 10 amazing women to join me (something I’ve wanted to do for years); and,
created a yearbook that invited those around me to help me remember — when I sit with it decades from now in a dusty attic — what this era of change felt like just as it is right now
Because, each one of us (yes you too - dear reader) will never again be the person we are today. And, damn. THAT is worth recognizing and even celebrating.
So, if you have resonated with anything we have published at Tomatokind for the past 2 years…
✨ Here is my birthday wish for you (pick 1 or 2!) →
Share an article that you love with a friend
Comment what you are excited to see more of in 2026
Gift a subscription to a fellow creative who would benefit from reading stories and reflections that help them feel seen
Join our community of paid subscribers who get to receive (and support) even more writings, gatherings, and magic from us; or,
Reply to me with 1 word that describes what it feels like to be part of Tomatokind
With that, we will be in your inbox again next week (with a lovely gift that many of you helped us create!). And…we wish you a restful weekend.
Always with zeal and gratitude for this creative life,
Vanessa
P.S. Here are our favorite articles from 2025 to curl up with during the winter break →
