Peace

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.  

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

With my dad getting so sick so quickly I've forced myself to slow down a little this past Christmas Season. I took a little time, pushed the things I really ought to be doing aside and just slowed down. I chatted with friends, I created some cards....sometimes I just sat on the couch and watched some television but the important thing was that I just took the time to let my mind wander, which was something I hadn't allowed myself to do for quite some time. I was afraid I'd break down as soon as I'd stop. And I did break down when I finally did stop but it didn't last forever. And afterwards I felt better for having gone through it.

It was during one of those precious taking-time- moments that I came across a beautiful yet thoughtful post a friend of mine had posted on her blog recently. She used the word "linger" to describe her wishes for the new year. I think it is one of the most beautiful words I have heard in a long time. 

Lingering is something I think all of us should cherish in this busy time of ours. 

Our lives seem to overflow with appointments, activities, groceries, errands, soccer practices, recitals, birthdays, emails, cellphones, meetings, holidays, bills, depts, repairs. We rarely find the time nowadays to slow down a little, linger as my friend so nicely put it and cherish the present. I so often complain that time just flies by but really I myself am to blame for that. I allow time to fly by simply not taking a moment to slow down. 

That is really all it takes you know...a moment and life is not such a blur anymore. Things that truly matter become clear. Unimportant ones fade away. Hurt and Anger fade away. You see God's blessings everywhere. The stress goes away and makes room for peace.

And isn't that what we all ultimately, knowingly or unknowingly yearn for?

With peace everything is possible.

 And so I'd like to add Peace to Lingering as I believe these two go hand in hand.

I wish you a peaceful 2012 full of wonderfully lingering moments!

Sony

Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. ~14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso