Spirit

Feeling Stretched? Give Yourself the Gift of Serenity

When the temperature of our hometown of Tempe, Arizona recently hit 118 degrees, my wife had an inspired idea:

“Let’s get out of here.”

One of the benefits of being writers is the ability to work from anywhere. Two days later, we were standing on a hotel balcony overlooking a marina in deliciously cool San Diego CA.

I spent the following morning exploring the Japanese Friendship Garden in nearby Balboa Park. I was entranced. The winding footpaths. Gentle waterfalls. Koi ponds filled with large, colorful fish. A meandering stream crossed by a gracefully arching footbridge. Quiet fountains formed of bamboo and stone. I sat on a shaded bench and marveled at the exquisite marriage of raw nature and artful landscaping. I left the garden feeling deeply content, like my emotional tank had been filled to the brim.

When we arrived back in Arizona, I sought out our local Japanese Friendship Garden. Nestled in the heart of downtown Phoenix, this surprisingly charming oasis is available to all who seek respite from the bustle of city life. In almost fifteen years of living in the area, this was my first visit. Why had it taken me so long?

It’s so easy to be caught in a mindless routine, putting my head down and churning through endless tasks, appointments, and responsibilities. My trips to these gardens reminded me that seeking life-giving serenity requires intentional choices. I’ll be more mindful in the future.

So how about you? Does your emotional tank need refilling? Does dipping your toes in a pool of serenity sound delightful? Make some time. Seek out a garden, a park, a trail, a museum, a quiet wood. Press pause on your to do list and just be. If you do, you’ll come away refreshed, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.

Matt McMann

Matt McMann writes books for children and the personal development blog Becoming Yourself (becomingyourself.net).

Share
Published by
Matt McMann

Recent Posts

Reflections from a Park Bench in Paris

Bonjour from Paris. I write this while sitting on a park bench, having just finished…

5 days ago

Your Dream is Ahead (Some Leaping Required)

You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the…

2 weeks ago

The US Election Will Soon Be Over—Then What?

I’m guessing you’re as tired of it as I am. The texts. The robocalls. The…

3 weeks ago

What a 3-Year-Old Taught Me About Riding Life’s Waves

As I finish my October author tour, here's a painful lesson I learned during a…

4 weeks ago

Do What Makes You Come Alive

As I'm currently on book tour, I thought this would be an appropriate post to…

1 month ago

Find Healing by Embracing Your Wounds

SPECIAL NOTE: I'm on book tour in October and may be in your area. I'd…

1 month ago