Sometimes, we go some place and find that everything is different from what we expect. For example, if you live near NYC and go to South Jersey, everything seems different, yet everything is still the same. In NYC and the surrounding areas, there might be more congestion, traffic, and fast-paced activity. Yet, down in South Jersey, the roads are narrower, less traveled, and the pace is a bit slower (unless you are being passed up by a muscle car!).

For real, is everything the same? Maybe it is, and because we are in a different environment, it appears more relaxed and pleasant…Possibly.

It comes down to people. Are they in a rush or just moving along at a steady pace? Do they need to tell you something immediately, or can they take a moment to listen and pause before responding? A simple pause, the sound of silence between commentaries, and a smile or bit of laughter truly change the tone and general feel of how you will remember the encounter and the place you had it.

I often reflect on the time I have spent when I go away for a few days. Unfortunately, it takes me nearly a day to get into a ‘relaxed’ mode, then the rest of the time, I can honestly say I can slow down, enjoy, and let my five senses work their magic in creating my experience. Then, when I return home, I spend time writing and trying to recapture my expertise. I’m sure many of you do this too. I try to keep the ‘feeling’ alive as long as possible as if to bring a little of the peace and joy back with me. We experience this, but it is not something we can purchase in a gift store.

So the real question is how can we live where we do, work and play as we do, and get the same feeling as if we were away somewhere else? One way might be to meditate for a few minutes each day. Over a few weeks, you will naturally slow down your pace, your thoughts will quiet, and you will be more apt to listen without responding but waiting to hear an entire side of the story, pause, and think of how to respond. This truly happens. It’s almost like time “slows down,” and words and meaning become more critical to hear and understand before responding.

Another way to capture this sense of joy and peace is by acknowledging daily, by writing down on paper in the morning and evening, what you are grateful for in your life. Identifying three or four things that have made you feel gratitude will refocus your attention on your core, ‘center,’ and solar plexus. You will find that this simple act will reinforce to your mind where your focus is and should remain throughout the day, during your interactions, and beyond this, when you look up at the sky, the sunrises, and sunsets, the masterful beauty of our life.

Peace and Calm can be yours with your thoughts on the proper focus, and your heart is open to hearing nature’s tunes.

Namaste and Aloha

Santa Crisall