Serenity

Serenity often comes and goes in my life
depending on the effort I put into
welcoming it or pushing it away.
I can't will serenity, but I can 
create an environment where 
it's more likely to blossom

When I found the above excerpt in a post from an old blog, I felt as though they were the exact words that I needed at this exact point in time. 

It has been a very trying time living without running water all these months. Sometimes it gets to me very badly.  Instead of readdressing the nightmare that has been my past week, I'm attempting to put it behind me . . . it is in the past. There is no serenity in going back to something that can't be changed and is so distressful. It is over even though the problem remains, my attitude about it has to be put aside for the sake of serenity.

For me today serenity was going back to bed many times before finally getting up to meet the day. I simply wasn't ready and did not have to get up, so I didn't.  Indulgence in the little things while I can is where it is for me.  Both The Captain and I are battling a stomach virus that has been most uncomfortable.

I'm ready to face a day with peace in my soul again and a purpose to continue searching for my place in this world . . . or at least searching for what will bring me that serenity and joy I need so much in my life.

I'm just a restless spirit wanting to land in a peaceful place.

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Do It Anyway

Since I have had a case of the blahs and have been

 writing negative posts, I thought I would post

 something positive from Mother Theresa.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

(Mother Teresa)

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The Gift of Serenity

Serenity can be described as the state of calmness and the sensation of peacefulness.  

Day to day life experience brings disruptions to peace of mind, taking many forms that can sometimes pile up, turning composure into overwhelm.

There are ways of coping with these moments in time.  

The one that always comes to my mind is the catchphrase "Take Me Away" generated by a marketing campaign for Calgon bath and beauty products.  One of their famous commercials, as described by Wikipedia . . . 

"A woman wearing a fluffy pink robe is seen in a chaotic home scenario. As tension rises, she utters the slogan "Calgon, take me away!" The next scene shows her relaxing in a bath in a quiet room."

Take a moment to see if you can relate to this commercial from the 80's . . .

For those who have never taken the advise of the commercial . . . try it sometime, it actually works.  There was a time in my life when a hectic day at work would lead me straight to the bathroom to prepare a bubble bath, light up the incense and many candles to set an aromatic, calm mood in the dark bathroom to soothe my stressed out soul the minute I got home.  It was a nice transition from the irritations of life to the serenity of a hot bubble bath.

Lunch break diversions from a hectic day you know is going to run into overtime . . . a quick trip to a park to enjoy nature and quiet time can work wonders, making the rest of the day much more tolerable.

Then there is my favorite prayer . . . The Serenity Prayer

"God, grant me the serenity to accept 

the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference."

Know when you need to give yourself the gift of serenity . . . 

even if just closing your eyes and momentarily

taking yourself away.

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