Finding A Restful Place, When the World is Collapsing

As of late, it feels like things have been "difficult" in the world.

I'm not talking about myself, specifically, but the greater world as well. I keep coming across posts on Steemit where people are going through a rough time... meanwhile, the people who work around me are also having difficulties keeping an even keel.

Today, I was listening to the woman who has the candle and incense store next to our gallery... it seemed like every single person she talked to was as much there for therapy, as to buy something. It was out-of-the-ordinary; above normal; noticeable. 

Without getting too "woo-woo" here, sometimes it really does seem like were all connected in some way... some strange way that ties our ebbs and our flows together.

Solace and Peace

I suppose we all have our coping mechanisms, when things start to feel overwhelming.

Some people work out, some people go on a cleaning frenzy, some people curl up and go to sleep, yet others drink to forget...

My solace and peace have always come from the beach. Failing that, from nature.

Somehow, I need to get away from other humans, and from anything that is a "human construct."

Fortunately, we are blessed to live only a couple of minutes' walk from the shores of Discovery Bay... a long narrow fjord that stretches about 8 miles (13km) into the Olympic Peninsula, off the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which in turn attaches to the Pacific Ocean.

There's something about the freshness of the air off the water, the sound of waves and the slight seaweedy smell that makes me feel better; more whole.

Walking Meditation

Today was a good day for a walking meditation... peaceful, sunny, no wind.

Is a walking meditation really any different from "just walking?"

Well, to me it is... I suppose it's ultimately about intent. When I do these, I tend to "go within" and focus on counting off my steps by fours and actually minding and feeling my breathing.

There's a deliberateness there that's different from simply being out for a sightseeing or beach combing trip. 

After about a 20 minute walk, I sat down on a driftwood log and thought about my day, and life, and the people in it. Something seems a little "off center" with the world... it's like almost everybody I know is working about as hard as usual, doing much the same thing-- but their results, outcomes or rewards are slowly shrinking.

Which leaves either the choice of "doing more" in order to stay in place, or doing the same and before and accepting that your outcome will be less. Not sure what the answer is.

I stayed out there for about 45 minutes, before making my way home again.

How about YOU? Do you have a preferred way to deal with feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Does nature help you calm down and find perspective? Does it seem to you like the world is in a "rough state" at the moment? Do you have anything in particular pressing in your life? Have you ever tried a walking meditation? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!

(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Created at 170927 21:28 PDT