Serenity in times of Distress

A couple of days ago I received a call from a reader of my blog(also happens to be a close friend) to let me know that she had found her serenity by going out on her deck and exercising in the bright sunshine and enjoying the air around her.  We went on to chat about other things and when I hung up the phone I was smiling and breathing calmly myself.  By her expression of joy in finding her serenity she passed that along to me.  I didn't even need to see her face but I heard it in her voice.

This is what we need to do, let's infuse our sense of serenity to those that surround us.  I have seen, read and heard the distress that people in the USA are feeling post inauguration and see the vitriol spewed forth on Facebook, Twitter and other social media from both sides.  Would it not be more helpful and better for our psyche to instead of lashing out offer up solutions and compromise?  

People keep asking how to find serenity in today's world and here's what I tell them - you cannot look to anyone else to find your serenity, you have look within yourself.  It's there believe me I know.  I also know that this can be difficult, but it serves no one to place blame else where.  If you are angry, unhappy and/or stressed.  Then you need to look around you and inside yourself.  If it's sunny go out on your deck, backyard, driveway, pathway, etc and take a couple of deep breaths, look around you, let go of the anger and instead take in the world that surrounds your little corner of the world.  Maybe it's trees, maybe it's kids playing, maybe it's a cold wind or clouds and if you can't go outside then simply close your eyes and listen to the sounds that surround you.  Your breathing, the low hypnotic hum of the dishwasher, refrigerator, heating/ac system, etc.  Just listen, Just breath and Just be.  I have found that I love to sing out loud in the car(usually when I am by myself although my kids will tell you that it's embarrassing)  I really don't care, I love Broadway show music and since the invention of tinting windows, and hands-free applications I can sing to my hearts content.  For me this is joy, for me this is stress reduction (especially driving) and for me it's filling me with serenity.

Singing in car helps me arrive upbeat and happy and when I enter a room, a meeting, a doctor's appointment, or even the grocery store I know that I'm calm and ready for the adventure that's about to begin and that infuses the people around me with my sense of serenity.

So in these times of distress - stop, take a deep breath or sing to your hearts content, close your eyes(but not if your driving) and feel the serenity enter your body.  You will infuse those around just by Maintaining Your Serenity.

Serenity in New Year Resolutions

So, it's the beginning of a New Year and it's the time of year when everyone asks - What are your New Year's resolutions and while I understand the concept I really don't like to make new year's resolutions.

I actually prefer to make a new day resolution.  I mean why set yourself up for an entire year, why not simply wake up each day and say, "what is my resolution for today?"  Small goals, small steps I believe will provide a greater sense of achievement.  When I woke up this morning my immediate thought was that today I would begin to work through the corrections and comments that have been made to a document I recently wrote, that I would walk around the neighborhood (even though it's very cold), get fresh air and exercise and how did I actually begin the day - by looking out the sliding glass doors to the deck and seeing the most beautiful sunrise.  How can you not be filled with joy and serenity when your day begins with nature's beauty?

So if anyone asks me what my New Year's resolutions are I will simply say, "it's my goal to find joy and serenity each and everyday of my life."  I will wake up tomorrow and look forward to the day, because I know how to find my joy, how to locate my serenity and how to see beauty even in the cold rain or grey days winter.

This should be everyone's New Year's resolutions:
FIND JOY, LOCATE YOUR SERENITY AND SEE BEAUTY ALL AROUND YOU!  Not just once in awhile but each morning, each afternoon and each evening before you get into bed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is my goal to try a post to this blog a lot more frequently, perhaps even weekly.