That Peaceful Feeling

We all have our own ways of centering ... of feeling at one with ourselves and the world. I find that peaceful feeling comes to me in some of the simplest ways. Sitting outside on the front porch rocker and gently swaying back and forth is a prime example. I am so thankful Kevin created a little haven on the front porch of the cabin to relax and unwind in this way.

Thinking back on a more stressful time in life when I was living alone, getting over pneumonia, and the electricity went out on a bitter cold night, I remember being enveloped with peace by simply lighting some tea candles and putting them in small glass holders of amber, forest green, and burgundy colors. I placed the candles on my bedroom window sill and the gentle glow of the flames and the colors cast on the sill by the holders was mesmerizing. Gazing at them, I forgot about my troubles, at least temporarily, and felt warmed by the gentle glowing lights.

When we experience hard times, I think it's important to slow ourselves down, mentally step back from whatever is bothering us, and do something to put our minds at ease and engage our senses. Baking chocolate chip cookies and savoring the scent as it wafts through your kitchen, going outdoors and gazing upwards at puffy white clouds drifting across a span of blue sky, sitting quietly and petting your cat or dog ... something that shifts the focus away from the problem on to something pleasant or even awe inspiring.

As I get older, and during this period of feeling ill at ease due to kidney failure, I find myself naturally gravitating to these kinds of activities and feeling calm and relaxed. I share these thoughts because I think we all would be better off, if, on a regular basis, we took the time to take little "time outs" from long days and busy schedules to allow ourselves our own unique means of experiencing that peaceful feeling.