May Peace Be Within You

The holiday season can be a rush and bustle. It’s exciting for some to see the decorations and the wide variety of gifts to shop for to make someone else feel loved and happy. For others, the holidays are stressful, and a reminder to be careful with spending or even figure out where the money will come from to buy gifts. Regardless of the coaster of emotions we relate to the holidays; the most important thing is to retain harmony and balance.

It’s always been difficult for me to attain this state towards the end and immediately following the New Year. Perhaps this can be attributed to the lack of sunlight (at least in the northeast where I reside) and various other physiological “wirings.” Many people experience a bit of a letdown after the holidays. I call it the sugar high and then the crash. We get all ramped up for the excitement, the fun, the food, and the company of good friends and family, only to realize that once they’ve departed and the festivities are over, we feel emptiness in our hearts.

The past couple of years has not been ideal due to the pandemic. Some of us, or maybe I should say many of us, have been prevented from connecting with loved ones. Or a trip or visit was cut short because someone became sick and had to quarantine, or perhaps there was family disharmony or other circumstances beyond our control. In any event, the whirlwind of emotions can be disheartening at best, causing unrest and anxiety as we transition back to work, school, or life in general.

So, what can we do to bounce back? What can we do to take the edge off? New Year’s resolutions? Self-talk and reflection? Meditation? Yes, all these methods certainly work. However, sometimes they offer only a temporary fix or distraction, especially if we feel depressed or lonely. What is truly needed to lift the veil? The short answer is, I don’t know.

I can tell you what works for me, but that may not be the right recipe for you or anyone else for that matter. One thing that continues to work for me in just about every positive or negative situation is to remind myself not to rob myself of the present moment. If we ignore or push away our “now,” we are choosing, consciously choosing, to live in a denser modality of life. Right now, I’m writing, which makes me feel tremendously good. I know that through my writing, I’m healing myself and hopefully a catalyst in healing someone else who may be experiencing the same feelings.

Right now, I’m in a warm house, and it is frigid outside. Right now, my dog is resting comfortably at my foot. Right now, my kids are on their way back home after a very stressful holiday experience. Right now, my heart rate is steady and calm. I have a feeling of perfect peace and perfect poise. So, I will relish the experiences of my right now.

When I relish in the feelings of the present moment, I also remember to tap myself on the shoulder and express gratitude. I express gratefulness for what I have–not for what I want or prefer, but what I have right now. Then, I try to imagine what it would be like if I didn’t have what I already have—then the stuff that I desire melts away, for there is no need for it. What do I gain through this simple exercise? One moment, one breath of fleeting peace. Isn’t that what we all need right now? I’ll take it.

May peace be within you.