By: Hettie Basil Lighttower
When in your day do you find peace? Do you even find peace in your day? Come and sit for a minute. Let’s talk about this.
Let’s face it, we have a lot of daily demands on us as a general rule. So if we are being responsible adults those demands are our focus. We can get lost in meeting deadlines, paying bills, serving others, time clocks to punch, paperwork to finish, businesses to run, meals to make, cars to fix, yards to trim, holidays coming, funerals, family in need, church functions, grandkids to watch, neighbors in need, fundraisers to support, meetings to attend, cleaning house, doctors appointments, veterinary appointments, the list has no end in sight.
Some of these activities may be your peace. Or you may find peace nested in one or two of those components of the list. That is fantastic if you do. Finding peace throughout your day is vital to your health and your survival. But we can deliberately infuse moments of peace and serenity into our day as we need them.
You may have your own ideas and favorites; I hope that you do. But I will share a few suggestions that will make a big difference in your day:
Look out the window!
Sit on a park bench for 5 or 10 minutes.
Take 3-5 deep breaths.
Sit by the water(river,lake,ocean.
Take a nap.
Take a short walk
Listen to your favorite song.
Read an old love letter.
Cook your favorite meal.
Look at the clouds floating by.
Pray or give thanks for something.
Recollect a favorite moment in your life.
Visit a friend.
Hug a little longer.
Kiss a little longer.
Pet your pet.
Turn off the TV.
Sit in your car for five minutes before going into the store or your house.
Look at a gemstone and see all the sparkles.(perhaps your jewelry).
Soak your feet.
Take a fresh air break instead of a smoke break.
Watch a flag wave back and forth in the wind.
Feel the sun on your face.
Slowly sip a cup of tea while holding it in both hands letting the steam massage your face.
Observe nature.
Do your hobby thing you love.
Smell a candle.
Go fishing.
Watch fish in a tank.
Bake a pie or a tray of cookies.
Sit on your porch.
Ride a bike.
Turn off your phone for an hour.
Send Hettie Basil Lighttower an email. (tee hee)
I hope that just reading these suggestions has put you into a space of peace and you feel more peaceful now. Finding peace throughout our day brings balance to our mind body and soul. When we are in balance our cortisol/adrenaline levels are lower. Cortisol and adrenaline are two stress chemicals our brains put out when we are under strain, too busy, stressed or in danger.
This is a good thing on a short-term basis for our survival and ability to avoid life threatening dangers. Cortisol and adrenaline help us to react quickly and survive what we need to survive. But long stretches day in and day out of cortisol or adrenaline pumping into our body creates inflammation and chronic disease.
If we learn to consciously create peace within ourselves, we will suffer less physical aches and pains. Peace has to come from within. Don’t expect the world to hand it to you and say…. “here you go, have some peace. You have worked hard today and have been through a lot lately, so take this peace and run with it.” Uh…. No. Not gonna happen.
The simple things listed above should be good starting points for you to begin your life of peace and de-stressing. These things all work well and are useful in any life situation. You are in control of your inner peace. We have to decide to be in turmoil within or be in peace within. Recognize what brings you peace. Do that. You may have your own ideas of peace that you like to do. You may already know exactly what to do for yourself and what works for you. But perhaps you have not taken out the time to do those true-blue things recently.
Take the time. Do the things that bring you peace. Your body needs this. Your life depends on it. So, look at those clouds for your health, watch those leaves blow around while sitting on your porch like your doctor prescribed it to you to fix your knee problems. Drink your favorite tea but embrace the cup, feel the steam on your face, breathe it slowly in and clear your lungs. Feel better. Feel the peace that awaits you. It is always here in the moment to be received. You deserve it. Peace be yours.
Send in your notions and comments to [email protected]. I will include them in the next available column as per their arrival relative to the publication deadline of Tuesday by 12 p.m. of the same week. If you wish to be anonymous let me know. Kindness is contagious~*