For as long as I can remember, the written word has allowed me to rest, dream, imagine and forget about the world. Reading is one of my happy places. I curl up in one section of the sofa and dive into a world beyond my settee. Simple pleasures.

In the last few years, I’ve discovered that I enjoy editing. It’s like sitting in on a masterclass; I learn from other wordsmiths. However, the written word has always had power over me, and it’s no surprise that through life’s twists and turns, I have ended up doing what I am doing.

The late American literary legend Maya Angelou is quoted saying, ‘Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.’

Remember to Rest is infused with so much of the human. This is reading that causes one to empathise and to journey into countries, cultures and scenarios that may or may not be outside your sphere of experience. I was moved in so many ways when reviewing the submissions because there were so many stories that cut close to the bone. As a cancer patient, healthcare is a crucial issue for me. Whether it is offered from the sterility of conventional healthcare systems, be it private or public, you’ll read about it here with experiences from the healthcare provider, patient or family member. This series sheds light on other forms of care that are often sidelined, like the earthly wholesomeness of indigenous medicine. You’ll appreciate seeing how healing isn’t linear. There are stories of care and how the human spirit is tended to in India, South Africa, Canada or Belize. I am grateful to the poets and writers for giving me a masterclass on what care looks like for them, how it is given, how it is needed and how it is received.

I came across the words ‘savage beauty’ in one of the stories, and those words have stuck with me since. Of course, beauty is rarely described as savage, but it captures the series’ essence. The rawness and genuineness of the writers have given their words a savage beauty, regardless of the themes being tackled. Wordsmithing at its best, be it novice or experienced. You’ll appreciate this in the richness of local language and dialect that is unapologetic and genuine. I hope you’ll find yourself immersed in other worlds like I was.

I am trying to make more time for my rest, and what better place to relax than in words and in the experience of the savage beauty they offer? As you read and journey, I hope these words anchor you. For here is an opportunity to be centred in a place with individuals who have offered stanzas and stories of healing, darkness, reconciliation, discovery, resilience, lost love and the tenacity of the human spirit.

So may you find rest in the beauty of words.

Remember To Rest Issue 2