Finding Serenity in Disharmony

Serenity is sometimes very difficult to locate when the world around seems poised to be filled with discontentment and disharmony, as it has been the past couple of weeks, but now is the time more than ever to change that and find serenity in the inherent good that people can possess.

I will not bring politics into this blog, but it seems that people throughout the country we live in have gone off the rails.  Protests, hate mongering, attacks on individuals, trash talking, etc., how can we find a serene moment in this chaos?

Here are my thoughts:

First, we really need to start listening to each other, yes we all have different belief systems and yes we all have issues that we feel strongly about, but if all we do is deride the people who feel differently than we do we will never heal, we will always be at each other's throats.

Secondly we need to take a step back and look around us, not just at our neighbors or the people pushing through the grocery store or the mall, but let's look at the beauty that surrounds us each and every day.  Last night, if you looked outside there was a super, super moon - it was simply awe inspiring.  How can you not feel serene when gazing up into the night sky.  I have been amazed by the fact that until a few days ago I still had roses blooming in my yard.  That is beauty and that fills me with serenity (although, I do have to say that having flowers blooming because of global warming isn't exactly a calming thought), but beauty is beauty no matter what the reason.

Third, let's just try to be nice to one another.  I was sent an Instagram photo from We Are Love that stated the following:  "When you can't control what's happening, challenge yourself to control the way you respond to what's happening.  That's where your power is."  I believe it's also where you will locate your serenity.

If you believe in the goodness you can find within yourself and within those around you then you might be able to maintain your serenity in a world filled with disharmony.

Keep believing in serenity, I know I do.

Sadness, Serenity and Hope

Last week my cousin was killed crossing the street to catch a bus.  It was a horrifying phone call and shock spread through my being.  After a few moments I morphed into my role as one of the helpful family members, asking what I could do to help organize and get things moving forward.  The next few days were filled with a lot more phone calls, travel arrangements and trying my best to be a comfort to my cousins.   I didn't really put time away for uncovering my feelings or emotions and that was not a good thing.

The day of the funeral it was grey, but not raining yet and I was also filled with sadness since that same day nine years before my father (their uncle) had passed away.  It was a profound and deep feeling that made it hard to breathe.

The differences were there as well.  My father had been ill and passed away quietly surrounded by his immediate family, my cousin on the other hand died suddenly and unexpectedly surrounded by strangers.

How can you locate your serenity when you have a week like last week?

For a few days I didn't have the ability to locate my serenity nor did I particularly want to.  I just simply moved through the days.  That changed at the end of the week.  What was the change?  It started with going out to dinner with my sister (something we hadn't done in quite a while due to our hectic schedules) where we ate, casually toasting our father, breathing deeply and talking about our kids, doing a day trip together and the upcoming wedding of our cousin on the other side of the family.

That night I slept better than I had for 3 days.  Over the weekend I walked a trail in a local park taking photos of changing fall colors, enjoying sunshine and warm temperatures and watching ducks, geese and kids eating ice cream cones.  It was just what I needed to bring back my serenity.  It filled me with renewed hope.

Seasons change, children find joy in ducks, geese and ice cream and as adults we must move through life adapting, changing, finding our way through sadness to locate our serenity and our hope.

It's been quite a week, but now that my serenity has been located (it was probably always there, I just misplaced it for a few days).  Life is full of hope.