Peace of Mind… (blog)

Today as I Walked for Peace – I followed the detour across the street and stumbled upon the Garden of Remembrance

Right in the middle of downtown sits a monument to individuals from this fair city who died while serving in the military

Basalt carved stone steps, waterfalls, names etched in granite, identified by the war/conflict – WWII, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan

Silently, I stand gazing, moved by this place…this detour from the Walk for Peace – into the Garden of Remembrance – an homage to many who Walked before me, for Peace

Deeply I feel and understand the words of Plato – “Man Was Not Made For Himself Alone”

 

As I headed out with Chandler to Walk around Lake Union this morning, the first person we encountered was a gentleman sitting quietly near a bush, sipping on an ice cold beer. He called to Chandler, inviting her to come to him, which she did, happily. I spent a few moments talking with the gentleman, learning that he is “happier having his morning beer on the street than having to go to a job”. He offered me a beer (he had several), which I declined, and Chandler and I continued on our way.

A little later, we met these two young ladies, Haley and Natasha. They had just come out of a yoga class, and were thrilled to have a chance to pet Chandler. We talked for a bit, and I got out my 1conversation for Peace cards to invite them to draw from. They each picked a card, and after reading the questions, both girls started shyly giggling. Neither one would answer the question they got. I explained that the purpose of the cards is to begin a conversation about Peace, and invited them to take the cards and share them with friends or family that they felt comfortable answering the questions with. They both put the cards away, and after a quick photo, Chandler and I were on our way again.

The weather was magnificent, and along one side of the lake there are a number of “floating homes”, each with their own distinct look; personality if you will. As I Walked past some of the homes, I glanced through a fence and saw this lovely row of houses, and couldn’t resist taking a quick photo.

A bit later, I came across this sculpture. It made me curious about the artist who created such ebullient figures. The figures somehow reminded me of my sister, Emily. Their playful, larger than life personas and purposeful yet mischevious faces made me think of how Emily and I can be sometimes when we’re together.

Then, at about the 5 1/4 mile mark of my 6 mile Walk, I saw a street sign with an arrow pointing up a small hill to “Peace Park”. As I got to the tiny little park, there was a monument to Sadako Sasaki , which was covered in beautiful paper cranes. Sadako was two years old when the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, less than a mile from her house. Surprisingly, Sadako survived. However, ten years after the bombing, Sadako was diagnosed with leukemia. Over the next eight months, Sadako folded more than 1,200 paper cranes, hoping that the Japanese fable that one who folds a thousand paper cranes will have one their most desired wish granted because of their patience and commitment, would come true. Sadly, Sadako died. However, her story became known the world over, and she and the cranes have become an international symbol for Peace.

Tonight, I am moved by and grateful for the synchronicity of this event…

 

Today, I had the grand pleasure of meeting my friend Karen for a lovely meal and visit about three quarters of a mile from the house where I’ve been staying the past couple of nights. Karen and I have been friends for about 25 years, so when the opportunity presented itself for us to get together, I couldn’t resist! We spent time talking about a recent seven week trip Karen had taken in which France, Russia and Norway were among the countries she visited. As she spoke, I could feel how moving this trip was for her. We also talked about the devastation of war. Karen shared about towns and villages on her trip that had plaques with the names of people from the local communities killed in war, and how strongly the people have been impacted by the ravages of it. Karen said the places she visited need a Walk for Peace. I shared with her my desire to Walk for Peace in Europe at some point.

Just as I thought we might be going in different directions, Karen suggested calling her niece to see if she was available (with her four year old daughter, Rose) for a visit. As luck would have it, Gina and Rose were at a park on Lake Washington, and they invited us to come visit. After getting the buggy packed into Karen’s car, we headed to the park.

Little did we know, that Chandler would become a bit of a celebrity there. Children and adults alike asked about her markings, if they could pet her, how old she is, what her name is, etc. At one point, Karen and Gina were in conversation and Rose was playing in the sand, so I struck up a conversation with a woman named Emily. Emily talked about her family’s dachshund, Lily, and how much her husband loves dachshunds. She asked if we lived nearby, and I talked to her about the Walk. She got quiet for a moment, and then thanked me for taking time with her this afternoon. I told her I was happy to sit and visit with her and wished her the best. Then, as I was headed back to Karen and a Gina, Emily asked if I would take Chandler to the edge of the water and introduce her to her husband. I told her I’d be happy to. When I got to her husband, I explained that Emily had asked me to introduce Chandler, and he was thrilled. He leaned over and scratched her, saying it “was great comfort to get some dog lovin’, especially from a dachshund”. I asked if they were vacationing, and he said sort of. He explained that they were at the lake with their three kids, but that they are in Seattle because their baby son had just had a liver transplant. He said they were trying to keep things as normal as possible for the other kids under the circumstances. I was amazed. I mentioned that he and Emily were so kind and warm and welcoming and that their energy was very Peaceful in a time that I imagine she was very difficult for them. I told him that he and his wife were my teachers today, and that I would keep their son in my thoughts.

As we left the park and Karen dropped me off, I strolled the rest of the way to my hosts’ house feeling grateful for all the ways that Peace does exist in this world.

Today I Walked from Rob and Becky’s place to an area known as University Village. I stopped at a little shop for a cup of coffee, and Chandler immediately garnered the attention of two men sitting outside. One of men was particularly enamored of her, asking first if he could hold her while I got my coffee, next if he could take pictures of her, and finally mentioning that if I came out from getting my coffee and Chandler was gone I needn’t worry, because he would take good care of her. There was a lightness in the conversation that was really fun, and Chandler seemed to enjoy the attention.

The first place I went was to the pet store to get Chandler some food. As I approached the check out counter, there was a man checking out next to me, and he asked about the Walk. He wanted to know if I was with FOR (Fellowship Of Reconcilliatiom), and I explained that while I am not with a group, I am familiar with FOR. As we continued to speak, Jerry introduced himself to me and shared names and locations of organizations between here and the Canadian border that I could connect with. Jerry indicated he has been active in “all things Peace” for many years, and he thanked me for what I’m doing, saying “it’s important work”. Thank you Jerry.

A bit later in the day, Chandler and I were sitting on a wall resting, when a woman with a service dog approached a park bench in front of us to sit down. Chandler started barking, and after I got her settled, the woman asked if she was okay to sit there. I explained that while Chandler is enthusiastic, she is not aggressive, and in fact enjoys other dogs. We went on to talk about service dogs and her dog in particular. We discussed the moment when Sandy got her dog (Laila),  and how much it helped her to adapt to her new blindness. As Chandler settled into a nap near but not too close to Laila, Sandy shared about how heightened her awareness of other sensory input has become since becoming blind. She mentioned that she could tell that Chandler wasn’t a threat by her bark, which I found fascinating. She also said that sometimes, she comes outside to hear the sounds and I shared my experience of being outside so much of the time when I’m Walking that I find myself closing my eyes and trying isolate sounds, which helps quiet my mind. I was grateful to Sandy for her openness, and for the opportunity to spend some time together. As I got ready to go, I thanked Sandy for sharing part of her day with us.

When I arrived back at my hosts’ house for the evening, I had the chance to visit with them as they prepared the last of their food and gear for a backpacking trip to the high country. When I think I have reduced the amount of things I need to carry in the buggy to the bare minimum, I am reminded that it could actually be reduced further. Of course, I’m not carrying everything on my back, but there is a way in which the less I have, the more clear I become about what I actually need.

After watching Rob and Becky sort, pack and re-pack for their trip, I am feeling motivated to do the same with the buggy.

What is neat about the first three conversations I wrote about is that each of them happened because I have Chandler with me. Because of her easygoing way of connecting with people, Chandler is often a conduit into communication and community with others. I love having her with me, and it is wonderful on the days when I am present to the huge gift she brings by being a part of the Walk for Peace.

 

Yesterday turned out to be a long and very full day, as did today. When I stopped for a cup of coffee this morning, I met a gentleman named Matt, who had served in both Afghanistan and in Iraq. In the beginning of the conversation, we stayed at a sort of surface level; neither of us asking questions that would invite a deeper discussion. However, I noticed that he had brought a book with him, and when I inquired about it, I found out that it was a book on leadership in civilian life, post-military service. From here, Matt and I discussed the different courses and trainings we’d been through, the importance of looking at our selves and the different ways that people seek Peace. As we continued to share with one another, I was really touched by Matt’s openness. We touched on many different topics, sharing on both a philosophical and on an emotional level. I could have sat with him for hours, were it not for a meeting he had that cut our discussion short. As we finished talking, I thanked Matt for his time and he offered his well wishes for the Walk.

Over the next several hours,  I walked at a relatively steady pace, making my way through South East and into North East Seattle, where my friends rob and Becky (pictured above) live. I was struck by the number of Little Free Libraries there are in the neighborhood. It is fun to look in the libraries and to think about who might have put certain books in the library and wondering what book would be the next one chosen. And I thought about what it might be like to have a project building little Free Libraries all around the city.

At the end of my day, I had the great pleasure of stopping at my friend Rob’s house. Rob and I have known each other for a little over a year, and I enjoy his easygoing presence. Rob and his wife, Becky took me out for a lovely supper, and there was an ease between the three of us that was really special. Although we’d only met tonight, Becky’s enthusiasm reminded me of several conversations I’ve had while Walking, and the questions she and Rob asked sparked a wonderful conversation about Peace.

Tonight as I lean toward sleep, I feel humbled by the gracious way that Rob and Becky have opened their home to me. I am sated and I am at Peace.

Today began with a conversation with my new friend Peggy (as you look at the picture, she’s bent-kneed to the right of the buggy). Peggy was fixing fried rice over a camp stove, and asked if I had had breakfast. I said I had and thanked her for asking. As I began the process off striking camp, Peggy asked about Chandler, and where my car was. I explained that I am Walking for Peace, and that the buggy has everything Chandler and I need. She was quite surprised, and offered her blessings for us on the Walk. I asked how long they are going to be in the States and Peggy said for another 23 days. It turns out that she and her husband own a camping property in Taiwan. I asked what the biggest difference between campgrounds in America and Taiwan is, and she said that in Taiwan, the individual sites are significantly farther apart.

As it turns out, Peggy, her husband and their kids are traveling with three other families from Taiwan, and they had the campsites just on the other side of mine.

During the next half hour or so, the children from these four families came and played with Chandler, while some of the adults cautiously made their way into my campsite. They began asking questions (with occasional translation through the kids) about the Walk, the buggy and Chandler. One of the gentlemen asked if the buggy was sturdy. I invited him to give it a push, which seemed to make him feel confident about the buggy’s integrity.

Just as everyone was getting ready to go, Peggy came over and handed me a plastic bag full of fresh fried rice for my lunch. As I thanked her, I explained that I would be happy to have it later, which I truly was. It was delicious!

Finally, as they prepared to go to the Boeing museum and I prepared to Walk, one of the men asked if we could all take a picture together. I said yes, and we got someone from the camp across the path take the photo. As we set up for it, everyone was laughing and smiling and really enjoying the moment.

As I Walked from the campground toward Seattle, I was aware how at ease I felt, and was grateful for it. Most of the day was spent on the Green River Trail, which was fun for Chandler because she had the opportunity to interact with lots of dogs. And of course, I got a chance to interact with the folks Walking them.

By late in the day, I had not yet found a place to stay (I was in communication with a couple of Couchsurfing folks), and I was too tired to Walk any more, so I stopped in at a coffee shop. As I parked the buggy, one of the gentlemen at the table beside me asked how long I was going to be there, because he was going to smoke. I mentioned I’d be there for a few minutes, and that he should go ahead. About 45 minutes later, the gentleman smiled and mentioned that I’d been there for “a lot longer than a few minutes”. I laughed and said, “Yes, 4 cigarettes worth (he had flicked the butts on the ground), and I pointed to the butts. He immediately said that when he asked if there was an ashcan nearby, the server suggested using the street “since the parking lot is cleaned by a street sweeper every night”. After further discussion with the gentleman, we found ourselves laughing out loud at the subtle humor we both possess, and truly enjoying each other. As I Walked away, he offered me hope for an enjoyable Walk, and when I turned to thank him, he was picking up the cigarette butts. I smiled, turned to the road and headed out.

By this time, it was about 8:15 pm, and I had gotten a “yes” from a Couchsurfing host… 2.2 miles back in the direction I’d come from. Over the next two hours, I worked at making my way to the address I’d been given (only to be taken in the wrong direction by google maps), and finally arrived at 10:15 pm. As is sometimes the case, my host was ready for bed, so we exchanged pleasantries and we went our separate ways.

The day was actually full of relaxed, peaceful Walking, conversations and scenery. I was moved by the enthusiasm of my friends at the campground, and the kindness of providing me with a meal for my day. I enjoyed snippets of conversations, and watching Chandler enjoy herself along the river trail. I have hope that conversation my new friend and I had at the coffee shop was enough to shift how he disposes of his cigarette butts going forward. And, I’m grateful for a flexible, gracious host.

This evening, I am spending the night (my first official night of camping on the Walk for Peace) in a campground just outside of Kent, Washington. As I set up camp, my sisters (Emily and Marybeth) came by to see how it was coming, and to visit for a bit. I was pleased that they detoured from their route to come by, and hope their time together this next week is enjoyable.

The park is full to capacity, yet somehow, there is a calm and Peaceful feeling as we ooze into the evening. Some folks have been out all day, and are just arriving back to the grounds, while others emerge from their tents and RVs after an afternoon inside.

The sound of children playing can be heard throughout the park, and while there are a good number of kids, the open air absorbs some of the volume from their excited voices, and there is joy in listening to them.

Earlier, I took Chandler for a Walk around the entire park, greeting folks and sharing stories of why we’re here… Chandler did some of her own meeting and greeting, with some of the kids near the playground.

Seeing an opportunity, Scarlet and Hannah asked if they could Walk Chandler for me for .50 cents, to which I said yes. Off they went, Chandler in tow for ten minutes.

When they came back, another little girl came over and sat quietly in the chair next to me. As I had with the others, I introduced myself and asked her name. Maya. I invited Maya to pet Chandler, and she was happy to oblige.

As I readied myself to leave, I asked Maya if I could take her picture with Chandler and write about her tonight (and yes, I checked with the all of the girl’s parents). She shyly said, “Really? You want to say something about me?” And I said that I did. I told her I wanted to write about her because Chandler liked her, and that I did too.

My intention today was connect to simplicity. For this Peace Walker, today was exactly that. And in this simple place, I find myself full of Peace.

Tonight, we drove up to a neighboring city to where Emily and Anders live to go country line dancing. As we got out of the car, Emily pointed out the clouds, and I couldn’t resist taking a photograph for tonight’s post. As I have taken time to study the picture, It has connected me to many different feelings.

Many years ago, I went to a week long training in hands on healing prayer. The week began with a number of sessions regarding meditation, and ways to develop skills to support a meditation practice. What was really important for me in that training, was learning that there is no correct way to meditate. I had previously started and stopped meditation practices over and over, feeling like I wasn’t doing it right. In truth, meditation is a practice. Every time I meditate, I am developing my practice and becoming more skilled in the energy of it. From that training years ago to now, I have consistently meditated. What feels important about this is that it was only at the point where I let go of self doubt and judgement about how I was doing it, that I was actually able to embrace the practice with ease.

Recently, I have been experiencing some dis-ease in my days. It actually began in Portland, and has floated in on and off while I’ve been here in Washington. I have found myself being a bit short with people (including myself), I have had some difficulty concentrating, and I had felt a bit distracted from the Walk for Peace.

Tonight however, when I looked up at the clouds and I remembered the training in meditation, I began to sink into a place of Peace again. You see, being Peace is a practice. I do not do it perfectly, and there are times when Peace eludes me all together. Unfortunately, I never know when I’m going have trouble connecting to Peace. Fortunately, the skills I learned regarding developing my meditation”muscle” are relevant in reconnecting to Peace. Sometimes, it comes through observing something in nature. Others, it is being in community with people like the folks where we went to dance tonight. And sometimes, Peace comes in observing and acknowledging feeling distanced from it. For in this acknowledgement, the space to return to Peace seems to open up.

So tonight, it is with a renewed Peace within, that I offer you my humanness.

Some days, Peace is simply connecting to it within myself. And other days, it is through a memory of a wise meditation teacher that I find my Peace. Tonight, my Peace drops in through the beauty of the clouds and their reminder of the gift of meditation as a practice, which was given so freely to me all those years ago.

Day 475 on the Walk for Peace…

 

 

 

One of the things I’ve learned about myself on the Walk for Peace is that when I have things that need to be handled that aren’t directly related to the Walk, I am better off if I focus on them in blocks of time, rather than interspersing them throughout the day. Today was just such a day.

What I like about handling things this way is that I am able to focus, which helps me accomplish the tasks in a fairly succinct manner, which gives me a feeling of Peace.

Fortunately, the projects on today’s list went smoothly, which gave me time to head into town and meet with my friend Dianna. Dianna, Bella, Chandler and I walked around Capital Lake late in the afternoon, and then sat for a catch up over supper. I met Dianna a couple of years ago when I lived in Olympia, and seeing her again today was a real pleasure. Dianna is a very calm soul, and she has a Peaceful quality about her that feels like an invitation to relax. As we talked, Dianna asked me about whom I’d met, where I’d been and where I am headed on the Walk for Peace, and it was really amazing to recount some of the experiences I’ve had to her.

As the evening comes to a close, I am grateful for the opportunity to revisit the previous days on the Walk for Peace. And, I look forward to sharing more as the Walk continues.