Guest Author - Cathy Brownfield

A former senior living editor entitled the piece, and led into what it means to have inner peace and how to find it. A Dr. Phil fan, she quoted him as saying the way to inner peace is through finishing what you start. Just like the Red Cross used to teach, it isn’t the way, but a way.

Inner peace has several synonyms, courtesy of the Internet:
· Peace of mind
· Having enough strength to face obstacles and still remain at peace mentally and spiritually.
· Opposite of stressed out
· Happiness, serenity, calm, bliss

But, how do you find it, this thing called peace of mind? How do you de-stress?

A harried mother and grandmother went to the doctor. “I’m tired all the time,” she complained. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Give me a rundown of your average day,” he said.

She did, relating a long list of tasks that earned her the distinction of Master of Multi-tasking.

“Do you take any time for yourself every day?” he asked.

“What?” She was puzzled.

“Do you sit down, put your feet up, listen to your favorite music? Do you ever sit down to read the new book you got? What do you do for you?”

“There isn’t time.”

“You need to make time for yourself everyday or you won’t be around to take care of all the things you have to take care of – or think you have to take care of,” the doctor advised.

Everyone needs space to call their own, where they can go to recharge, a place that isn’t shared with anyone else. At our house my space is called my office, a small room off of our bedroom that the realtor called a bedroom but really isn’t much bigger than a walk-in closet. There is a south-facing window and a west-facing window so there is always light in this room. I have to have light. I have pictures of family, postcards framing the south window behind my desk…Ponce de Leon Lighthouse, Apollo XIII: Failure is not an option. An earthrise from the surface of the moon, this blue ball suspended in space.

There are treasures that have no value for anyone except me because they are items that loved ones gave me…they think of me when I’m not anywhere in their vicinity, bless them. Are you sentimental, too?

When you go into this space of yours, light your scented candles, play your favorite relaxing music, and do nothing but be. Just be. Park your problems at the door and pick them up again on your way out…if you need them. Enjoy these precious minutes alone re-energizing.