Today has been a difficult day for me emotionally, as I awakened to the news of the attack in Stockholm, Sweden. As soon as I knew, I sent a text message to my brother-in-law (he’s Swedish) and my sister, letting them know that I was thinking of them, and praying that their friends and family were safe. And all through the day, I have been aware of my own angst. Not only because of this most recent incident, but because this is only one in a recent barage of many.
What’s important about noticing my discomfort and angst, was that I didn’t feel like I could find a point of grounding, Peace if you will, by myself. So, I reached out to a friend for help. I explained that I was having a tough time and that I was in a place where I couldn’t center myself.
Immediately, my friend asked for a moment to take in where I was, and she began speaking to me with clear, concise direction. She walked me through breathing, surrounding myself with strength and healing, and inviting me to allow all the things I was holding to be released. As soon as I began the first deep breath, I began to cry. And in the tears, I could feel my body releasing the tension I’d been holding around all of the violent, seemingly senseless acts of the past few days. By the end of the call, I was at Peace. That is to say, I was settled in the state of being unsettled about the world, and no longer feeling the weight of it upon my shoulders. From this place, I find myself able to hold the Dream of Peace in my soul, and the people directly affected in my heart.
In this time of instability, I know that it is important for me to reach out for help when I need it. I believe that as the distress increases, so too must the practices that help return and/or retain Peace.
As I am working on preparations to begin Walking for Peace again, I am grateful that I know I can pick up a phone and at a moment’s notice, be grounded again.
For this Peace Walker, the connection of souls in a way that sees and supports all levels of energy and emotion, is the path from presence to Peace.