One of my special places | Filed under General
Hi there and thanks for joining us back here once again on “Our Porch” If you are not familiar with things here just take a look around and get comfortable. But remember, no not that one to always check in on the previous day’s post to see the comment I left for you and check for any messages that has been left for you. You never know when someone special might just leave you a special little shout….and no I am not talking about myself.
Now that the housekeeping chores have all been taken care of we can get down to some real fun. It is Thursday and to be called Thirsty Thursday
which you will soon figure out why.
We all have our own little place to escape and think at. This is one of mine, the bank of the river located right down from my house. On my good days, I long for my alone time on the bank of this river or on one of the many sandbars in it. After my last visit with my friend and physician , I have lost the privilege of that for now.
Do you know what I used to the time alone there for? Well let me just tell you.
Have you ever sat very quietly without any movement? You try it, sit really still, with your back straight, and observe what your mind is doing. Don’t try to control it, don’t say it should not jump from one thought to another, from one interest to another, but just be aware of how your mind is jumping. Don’t do anything about it, but watch it as from the banks of a river you watch the water flow by. In the flowing river there are so many things–fishes, leaves, dead animals–but it is always living, moving, and your mind is like that. It is everlastingly restless, flitting from one thing to another like a butterfly. . . . It is great fun. If you try it as fun, as an amusing thing, you will find that the mind begins to settle down without any effort on your part to control it. There is then no censor, no judge, no evaluator; and when the mind is thus very quiet of itself, spontaneously still, you will discover what it is to be gay. Do you know what gaiety is? It is just to laugh, to take delight in anything or nothing, to know the joy of living, smiling, looking straight into the face of another without any sense of fear.
Right now I have a deep gnawing sense of fear in my gut. Tonight in anger while defending one of my best friends to another friend, I said some very nasty and hurtful things to them and even involved others. I lost my cool and just might have lost a friend. Even my place would not help me right now but that friend might want to use a great stress tool I know of on me.
Feeling Stressed?
Picture yourself near a stream.
Birds are softly chirping in the crisp cool morning air.
Nothing can bother you here. No one knows this secret place.
You are in total seclusion from that place called “the world.”
The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
The water is clear.
You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you’re holding under the water.
Look!
It’s the person who caused you all this stress in the first place.
What a pleasant surprise.
You let them up… just for a quick breath… then
ploop!
back under they go…
You allow yourself as many deep breaths as you want.
There now… feeling better?
I’m visualizing my head going under again and again and again—–dang I’m not feeling any better but just maybe…..
It is another one of those nights of not sleeping here and no one to play with on Our Porch.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:31 am
Indeed, as I posted a week or so ago; my own worst enemy stares back at me from my mirror each night…
Morning SC, Yes this is so true for me and something I am not proud of at all. The thing I find frustrating is now that I am so aware of being my own worst enemy at times just how do I change this or can I? If you have any thoughts on this, please share them with me for you are one I so respect.
January 26th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
The river is beautiful and thank you for sharing your special place. I felt like I was there… peace.
I’d like to stay here all day.
I love the sound of a waterfall and feeling the slight spray on my face. Mountains give me the peace I need as well. I’ve taken many drives into the mountains to calm down and feed my soul.
I hope you get the peace and relief you need. Love & hugs!
On a silly thought, g-wiz, I wonder what else you could do… *snicker*
Karen, I can always count on you for a smile or a laugh so G-Whiz
Thanks for sharing this special place with me and as always your love.
January 26th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
I swam a lot in my youth. My lungs were quite strong (then). One fun thing to do was to expel all the air out of my lungs and let my body sink to the bottom. I found I could lie there for several peaceful moments. Those peaceful moments are indelibly etched in some part of my brain. Now, when the going inevitably gets tough, I can resurrect those peaceful memories and clear my conscious. I have found, for me at least, that is doesn’t take much. A simple pleasure, a cleansing trip in the way back machine, back to that time…mmmmm.
RD, Thanks for sharing a glimpse back into some of your peaceful memories but I have one question for you…..way back to when, what, where, and who. This inquiring mind wants to know.
January 26th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
My peaceful place has changed over the years. When I was a child, we had a huge willow tree in our backyard. The branches touched the ground all the way around it, and when I needed space i’d go out and sit under the tree. It was always cool, quiet and the grass was so soft you could lie on it for hours.
Now, my favorite spot is in my back yard. I have a little covered picnic area that has a tin roof on it. I can sit and listen to the birds on sunny days and watch the mountains in the sun. When it rains I can sit and listen to the drops striking the roof. It’s musical.
When my mind won’t shut off long enough to catch my breath, I go out there and listen to the breeze and just shut out evreything negative I can until my mind finally settles.
Hello Trace, I was just about to say morning and realized what time it is. I loved it when you shared the picture of your place with us in the past. It was beautiful especially knowing about the horses. I also love how you descriped and shared your special place from child hood.
One of the issues I am dealing with right now is the new med from last week and I am finding it very difficult to slow my thoughts down but it is better than when I was was dragging around as if I was asleep on my feet. Now I just can not slow things down to process them before I react.
January 26th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
HI Miz Vicki, (waving big), fixing that link right now!
Hello Ms. Brenda and thanks for making the change. Now just find your way back
January 26th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
When I was young and things were bad at home, I would escape to the woods to sit and think and calm down. Now, it’s hard to escape to a peaceful place.
Now I just get in the shower and have a good cry.
I am glad you are a feeling better and that you are back here.
*hugs*
Deni, We all haveour own special way to work through issues and as long as it works that is what is important. Thanks for your well wishes on the days I was not here.
BTW, I wish you the very best in the issues you are dealing with and hope the relocation goes well. Just think you are relocating to one of Monica’s favorite states and closer to me….see the advantage:)
January 26th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
Thank you for sharing your place. I was there and at peace. My place is not a physical place. It is during my prayers.Don’t worry about losing your freinds. True freinds will be there for you when needed. Sometimes I just gotta be mad for awhile. If your energy won’t let you get to your spot? We all will put you in a chair and carry you. Feel us doing just that my freind.
Bubba, Thank you for always sharing your kindness and wisdom. These days I just seem to have a problem dealing with emotions and it is not fair for me to lash out at others.
I will remember to call on you if I need someone to take me to my place.
I hope all is well with you
January 26th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I am sure you weill be forgiven!
Relax and forgive yourself,you ae only human and we all create learning experiences for ourselves and others as we walk through life.
Thanks Denise, I seem to forgive others so easy but have a difficult time forgiving myself.
Life is one long experience
January 26th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Sometimes we have to defend our friends against others…it takes courage to do what is right and one thing I see in you is courage.
Now about private duty nursing…hmm, what are your rates?
Monica, You are a loyal friend who will fight for those that are important to them. I share that quality but it does not make it right to say hurtful things to others.
As far the private duty nursing well you know I need to know a little about the other benefits.:lol:
January 26th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
Snow. Cabin. Mountain.
Need I say more?
I, too, suffer from Foot In Mouth Disease. In fact, it’s funny you mention it because it’s the topic of my post tomorrow. How odd…
FTS, How about an update on when the move might take place, do you know. I hope it is not much longer for you.
Oh the FIMD, I will make certain I get over and read your thoughts. I seem to suffer from it more since Missy than before….I guess when you involve your brain and CNS the thought process does get a little jumbled….some would say an excuse…
January 26th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
I can’t say I have a physical place that brings me peace and comforts me. I stay so busy and so wound up that I don’t really even think about it. I do have a peaceful time though and that is when everyone has gone to bed and I’m still up watching TV, reading, playing on the computer, or whatever else I might find myself doing.
As for the friend problems. If they are a true friend, they’ll calm down and return. That is what friends do. How many times have we fought and separated and returned?
Mel, A place or a time they both work well when we use them.
You know me well and guess what you win the award for you know me as the real down the street friend. You are the one who was there when I would be in the hospital, you are the one who would take time out of their busy schedule to run errands for me when I could not. I like to think I was also there for you.
January 26th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
That is such a peaceful photo, and your description is awesome! I have trouble getting my mind to shut up. I need to print this off and try it.
Sometimes we all “blow” now and then. Situations happen and sometimes we have to allow ourselves to stand up and make our feelings known to friends, family. It’s necessary to stay true to ourselves. If we regret it later or feel we went too far, well, your scenario is a good form of self punishment
Thanks Carolyn here I go ploop again, I have done that so many times today. Print and enjoy. Blow what a picture I have right now.
January 26th, 2006 at 6:16 pm
Thank you for the guided meditation and sharing your special place with us Miss Vickie. Good luck with your friend, if it’s meant to be, it shall be……
Jude you are one I thought might enjoy this little post today more than others as it something near and dear to you.
Thank you with the wishes about my friend. You are a wise one. I have a difficult time when I know I have wronged someone and not being able to work through isses because we never know what tomorrow brings. Being a Nurse and then having Missy has pounded that one into me .
January 26th, 2006 at 9:33 pm
That is the most uneasy feeling in the world to me…to be at odds with someone I care about. Though we know that it will eventually smooth out, it’s just so painful to be in the midst of discord.
Poope you described it well….painful in the midst of discord. All I could describe it was as gnawing sense of fear in my gut. I knew it hurt. :o(
January 27th, 2006 at 1:22 am
I love that picture. When I feel down and miserable; and if, the weather permits it. I get on my fourwheeler and drive to our camp and cry. Just being one with nature makes me feel great. Thanks for sharing. Take care and have a great weekend!
Scarlet LeAnn, Thanks, nature does have a way of brining things into a much better perspective. Hope you have a nice weekend as well.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:53 am
When I was a child, I reacted as a child
Now that I’m an adult, I still react as a child.
When I’m feeling lonely, blue or vulnerable, I put myself back in time, age 13 - I’m sitting in that little white church by the river, swinging my legs back and forth under the pew. I’m sitting on the last row next to my first best friend, scribbling notes back and forth, giggling.
And, then the day came that I met Jesus face to face on my knees at the altar. I was crying, not from sadness or fear, but from joy, knowing I would never again be alone and lonely.
I understand how you’re feeling today, and I’m listening Ms. Vickie.
Ms. Sally, you always have a way of bringing a smile to my face a very special lady you are and a dear friend.
I am not at all surprised that you might understand me, I know you are listening and it means so much to me. Thank you
January 27th, 2006 at 4:58 am
Vickie: When I started my walking program over 4 years ago it was around a man-made lake where Mallard’s would land. I’d bring breadand tear it in pieces and toss ir into the lake. Very relaing after a workout. Stop by anytime!
Thank you Michael for sharing this with us, I have been very remiss about visiting. I’ll try to do better but no promise.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Vickie, we were blessed to have a wonderful park system in our town. And one of those beautiful, expansive parks had a huge public pool. Of course one side was shallow, but the other was pretty deep, with two regular diving boards and the high dive. The sun would shine hot, rock music would blast over us youngsters as we soaked up the rays, strutted our stuff in front of the young ladies and blissfully wasted our summer days away from school. That’s where I learned how to escape the din for a moment, those peaceful moments that serve me so well now. More?
Thanks RD the inquiring mind has been satisfied but I do know where I can go for more.:)
January 28th, 2006 at 1:33 am
Being near water has always been very relaxing for me. I love the photo. As for your friend, I trust that everything has been resolved. Wishing you peace.
Hi Deb, Water is very relaxing. Glad you liked the post. Time handles all things.