Last night, I stayed up with my three-month-old grandson, Seraph. Feeding him, changing his diaper, and holding him close when he needed comfort. Despite the lack of sleep, it was an incredible night, one filled with love and connection. Alex, my daughter, was able to get some much-needed rest, and that, too, was a win.
It’s Wednesday, October 30th, and today I find myself at the summit of my week. For this morning’s reflection, I want to talk about something I’ve had to truly embrace during my hip surgery recovery, something that’s often overlooked but is incredibly important: rest. Specifically, the importance of rest and recovery in the life of a warrior.
As I hold this thought close, I remember that rest isn’t just about physically recharging—it’s an act of strength and wisdom. Whether you’re a new mom with a baby or a grandfather healing from surgery, there’s a universal truth: we all need rest to stay strong. True warriors understand this. True warriors respect this. Recovery is essential.
When I think about rest, I think about how the body is like a machine that needs regular maintenance. We can’t run it endlessly on full power without pausing to reset, otherwise, it’ll burn out. I’ve seen this truth in my years as a martial artist, on and off the mats, and now, during my recovery, that truth hits even closer to home.
In martial arts, the value of rest was ingrained in us early on. You train hard, and then you recover. Your muscles need that time to heal, to grow stronger. And if you push too hard, you not only risk injury but you delay your progress. Rest is part of the training cycle—it’s where growth happens. It’s no different when we apply it to the bigger picture of life. Whether you’re healing from surgery or managing life as a parent, taking care of yourself is key to everything else you want to do.
Warriors aren’t invincible. That’s what makes them resilient. They listen to their bodies. They trust the need for rest, for recovery, knowing that by taking a step back, they’re preparing themselves to take an even greater leap forward.
So, if you’re pushing yourself relentlessly, I encourage you to take a moment and reflect. Are you giving yourself the rest your body, mind, and spirit need to live strong? The same way a martial artist doesn’t skip rest days, you shouldn’t skip yours. Rest doesn’t mean weakness—it’s one of the most powerful things you can give yourself.
In my journey of recovery and in my role as a grandfather, I’ve come to understand that true strength lies not in constant action but in knowing when to pause and allow myself the time to regain my power. It’s in that pause, in that rest, that we become ready to conquer the next challenge, fully equipped to face whatever comes.
So today, honor the importance of rest. Whether you’re a new parent or you’re healing from a physical setback like me, know that rest is part of living strong.
And as always, if you’ve enjoyed these reflections, I’m playing empowering music in the background from my Epic Living Strong Warriors playlist on YouTube. You can check it out at YouTube.com/peterliciaga, and I’d love to hear which track speaks to you.
Also, join my personal community at peterliciaga.com. I’ve decided to focus more on creating genuine, distraction-free connections where we can dive deeper into these reflections and support each other on our journeys to live strong.
Thank you for being here. Stay strong, live empowered, and don’t forget to give yourself the gift of rest.
SEO Title: The Importance of Rest: Honoring Recovery as a Warrior
SEO Description: Discover why rest is a powerful part of resilience in Peter Liciaga’s journey of recovery. Learn how true warriors respect their body’s need for rest to stay strong, recover, and prepare for the next challenge. Read more on how Peter incorporates rest into his Living Strong philosophy.
