Breath and Life

Peace.

That’s my word for this week.

I know many of you will probably find that a bit odd, considering I’m the woman that’s always yelling fight! Fight! Fight! But even the fiercest warrior has to have a season of peace. Of rest. Of rejuvenation.

I realized yesterday that it is past time for my season of peace. I’ll discuss the circumstances of that in next week’s blog. What I want to focus on here is how I find peace and rest, and get you to think about the things that breathe fresh air into your life.

There are so many people, places, and things that I find sanctuary in. That are my breath and life. I want to share some of them with you today, in no particular order.

Above is a picture of the White River in Northern Arkansas, not far from where I grew up. This place will always hold a piece of my heart. The smell of pine, the rivers and lake I grew up around, the quiet, being surrounded by nature. When I was younger, all I wanted was to get out of that backwater and see the big world. Now, I return as often as I can, which is not often enough.

These are a few of the crazy people in my life. While often they drive me absolutely batty, each one has at one time or another spoken love into my heart and breathed life back into me when I was fading. For all our ups and downs, we are family and I love these people.

 

Music. If you’ve known me for longer than an hour, you know that music is what motivates me. It’s what powers me. I have been a musician and music lover all my life. I find solace in melody, comfort in rhythm. My life has a soundtrack and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Martial arts have been a part of my life for 20 years. Though I no longer compete due to health issues, I can still spar lightly, let loose on the bag, work through my forms, and train as hard as always. Even if it’s just me running through a form (think Tai Chi) all by my lonesome, nice and slow, I get a rush. I am centered. I am focused. For that moment, I am powerful.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention my greatest Source of peace. I’ve been involved with church for pretty much my whole life. But only in the past several years have I come to have a true, honest, no holds barred relationship with my God and not just hold to a religion. In opening myself up like that, having faith, I have found peace that is beyond description. If you have yet to find that for yourself, I challenge you to give Him a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Now that I’ve laid a little bit more of my guts on the page, how about you? What gives you peace? How do you find rest? Share with us! Maybe someone reading this needs some ideas for getting a little fresh air in their lungs.