Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto

In Part 2, Hersey, also known as the “Nap Bishop,” delves into the power of dreaming and daydreaming, as she frames them as acts of resistance and vital components of rest. Hersey’s narrative is interwoven with personal reflections, historical context, and a strong sense of spiritual and communal connection. She opens with a dedication to her ancestors, as she acknowledges their stolen labor and expresses a commitment to reclaiming the lost “DreamSpace” as a form of reparation and collective healing.

Hersey shares a daydreaming experience during a period of grief where she envisions a utopian planet free from societal ills like racism and sexism, a place where rest and dreams fuel existence. This vision, featuring figures like Trayvon Martin and Breonna Taylor in peaceful repose, highlights the healing potential of daydreaming and its capacity to offer solace and alternative realities. Hersey emphasizes daydreaming as a form of rest accessible at any time, a practice often stifled by a productivity-focused culture that devalues imagination and introspection.

Reflecting on her childhood, Hersey recalls moments of connection with her environment and herself through daydreaming, and she laments how societal pressures gradually encroached upon this personal space. She critiques the pervasive “grind culture” that prioritizes constant labor and productivity over individual well-being and spiritual fulfillment, reiterating, “You don’t have to kill yourself spiritually or physically to live a fruitful life” (123).