Finding Peace
Where do you find peace? Perhaps you find peace in nature, or maybe at church, or among family and friends. All of these answers are
Where do you find peace? Perhaps you find peace in nature, or maybe at church, or among family and friends. All of these answers are
Many of you are aware that John and I follow a Mediterranean-style meal plan. Like all “meal plans” (forgive me, but I hate the word “diet”; any word that begins with “die” should not be in the dictionary), there are healthy ways to use the guidelines and not-so-healthy ways to use meal plans. It’s somewhat like the teenager I knew years ago who professed to be a vegetarian but only ate starch, with no vegetables whatsoever. Bottom line: the devil is in the details. Eating real vegetables is critical to the health of the vegetarian meal plan. It’s vegetarian, not starchiarian—enough of the rant.
Our way of eating requires lots of whole grains and true vegetables. John is an organic gardener, and every summer we enjoy the blessing of his labor with the harvest of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, zucchini, squash, and whatever else he decides to plant. Many of our meals are strictly vegetables, although, as you know from last week’s post, we do enjoy limited amounts of seafood and chicken.
Define Your Own Terms
Some mornings are lazy by choice, and this particular Saturday was no exception. After a busy week, the sight of the recliner in the living room was the only invitation I needed to relax and enjoy the freshness of a new day. The first cup of coffee was gingerly placed on the small table next to the chair. Even Mother Nature added her blessing with an unseasonably warm day, warm enough to open a nearby window.
I wrapped a light blanket around myself and, with the poodle at my feet, sank deep into the stuffed cushions. Rays from the rising sun washed over me as I listened to the familiar sounds of birds and children playing outside. One child was giving cycling instructions to a group of younger children with the intensity of a drill sergeant. At the same time, a woodpecker provided a steady beat for his lineup.
Are you a late bloomer? If so, you are in good company. Some of the most spectacular and unique summer flowers are late bloomers. Let us introduce you to a freewheeling group of sunflowers and the stunning purple passion flower. Both of these amazing plants bloom in August. After all, perfection takes time.
Someone said to me, “You’ve sold your first painting. You are now officially an artist.”
That statement made me think. What defines an artist? Is it the ability to sell your work? Or does one become an artist when they sweep that first burst of color onto a canvas? Personally, I think it is the latter. It is a wonderful feeling to sell a painting, but the artist was inside me long before the sale. It takes courage to paint, not because it is difficult (although it can be), but because the artist pours their soul into every work of art. Painting demands vulnerability, and the artist must be willing to lay bare what is inside them. Painting is personal, a spiritual endeavor that releases the internal spirit. It is freeing. It is frustrating. It is a journey, and I am thankful for every moment.
This week’s meditation takes us to the mountains in art and poetry. The mountains are one of my favorite subjects to paint. Mountains connect with me in ways that nothing else does. I am reminded that I am a small part of a much bigger world, one of grandeur and wonder. It is a place where I can breathe freely, knowing that as a smart part of humanity, I do not need to know all the answers. It is enough to do my part and bask in the mystery that surrounds me.