Share Your Serenity

Those moments when I experience a sense of serenity are few. Those pockets where time and space extend forever beyond the horizon sing to my soul. Moments where I find stillness. Where life is at once perfect and beautiful. Most often the only place I can record such things is in my private journals. Recently though, when I came across the #shareyourserenity tag on The Quiet People, I saw the opportunity to share my moments of serenity with you and have the chance to hear yours as a bonus. 

The #shareyourserenity blog post invites you to post a collage of four photos that help you feel a state of peacefulness. Then share why those four things resonate with you. 

1. The Frosted Rose over a Mountain View

     Roses hold a very special place in my heart. Since I was a little girl I've always associated them with my favorite love story: Beauty and the Beast. I've wanted roses present in my own Tale as Old as Time, whenever it comes around. Roses hold the resonance of classical love and beauty. When I hold one, smell one, or touch the petals, I am immediately soothed in my soul. 

    The cold mountain view brings a sense of stillness and silence. I and the cold have always been friends. She invites me to stand still and listen to the fullness of open space around me. I breathe deep the icy air and watch my breath rise in a cloud. Oh yes, the cold and I are dear friends.

2. Fall Leaves after the Rain

    If the cold is that companion of mine that causes me to be still and listen, then Fall calls to me to journey, and the rain beckons me to hurry on to those things I love most. The colors of Fall make me smile. I walk out of my dorm to be greeted by the brisk air and the vibrant colors of the hills. I can't help it! I smile like I'm seeing an old friend after a long absence. 

   I do welcome a pleasant rain shower here and there. If it comes in the fall it's even better. The soothing sound of the rain is so beautiful. And I become thankful for umbrellas, for short walks, and for warm, dry rooms to return to. 

3. Waking Up to the Morning Light

   Ah, Sleep. So often the love of sleep is equated with sloth. The Bible has some things to say about that and I'm fully in agreement that I shouldn't become a lazy person. But haven't you ever thought of how like a gift sleep is? After days of toil, we are given rest as a reward. Settling into a well-known bed and sighing as you lay down on a cool pillow? Ah. There's nothing so rewarding as that sensation! 

   A good night's sleep is something I look forward to as my reward after every day. Waking up however, can be a hit or miss experience. Sometimes you wake up instantly annoyed by that intrusive alarm. Your body wakes you up before your mind feels rested. Or you feel like you just closed your eyes a moment ago, and the whole break is over far too soon. But sometimes, in the best of mornings, you wake up to a ray of morning sunlight. It's a brand new day, with no mistakes in it yet. That should bring a smile to your morning. 

4. Handwritten Letters

   Handwritten letters, no matter who they are from, are the best gifts in the world. It really means a lot to me when I get letters in the mail. They bring me a sense of serenity because, to me, they're a piece of the person. The texture of the envelope, all the bumps and bruises from it's journey to my mailbox tell a story. The sound of the opening and unfolding letter bring a sense of anticipation. An anticipation to read the within message that never comes when I'm just opening a text from a friend. Call it old-fashioned and hopelessly romantic if you will. But getting letters in the mail bring a shining shaft of serenity to my day. 

What four pictures sum up your serenity? What makes you feel calm, content, and happy all at once? I'm opening up this tag for anyone who would like to pass it along. Only when you do, I invite you to leave a link down below in the comments so I can come and see your Share Your Serenity Tag as well. Have fun with it!