December's Word of the Month - Peace

December is a time for joyful celebration and reflection. As I look back on the year I am filled with satisfaction. I had the opportunity to co-create a new kitchen with my artist brother Dave. He's worked on lots of kitchens and when it came time to do mine I couldn't think of a better person to create the beautiful space. (Check out his Green Interior Spaces website!)  It turned out beautiful and we initiated it to the fullest extent on Thanksgiving Day!

Although I've waited a long time for this new kitchen I have to say that what stands out most about this year is my time spent at the Eckhart Tolle Retreat for Helping Professionals. Although I've been meditating most of my life, this Retreat took me to a deeper level of peace in my everyday life.

This month's word is Peace - A state of tranquility or quiet.

For those of you who are not familiar with Eckhart Tolle, he is an advocate for living fully in the present moment. It is an amazing way, and sometimes one of the only ways, of finding peace in our hectic lives. The terms "present moment" and "mindfulness meditation" are essentially the same concept. Using the phrase "present moment" we can more easily bring the practice of meditation into our everyday life, transcending the notion that "meditation" needs to be done in a quiet place. We can meditate and find peace anywhere, anytime, in anything we do if we can bring ourselves into the present moment. That means not thinking ahead to what may be or looking back at what has been. It's a process of looking at right now. And when we can do that we become Peace.

Let me give a personal example. Some of you have already heard this but it bears repeating. Just a few weeks after our kitchen remodel was completed we saw water leaking from under the wall. YIKES! That's not a good thing. That was on a Sunday night. We shut the water off and called the plumber we know and trust.  He couldn't come until Tuesday morning so we had plenty of time to "worry" if we chose to. But instead of worry I chose to practice being in the moment - mindfulness meditation.

Every time I woke up in the middle of the night, every time I would start thinking about the astronomical cost of a slab leak repair, every time my husband Bob would call to report on the horror stories from others I practiced the same mantra.  I reminded myself (and Bob) that "It is what it is. We've done what we can for now. Let's wait and see what the plumber says and take it from there."  These sentences were repeated numerous times and brought peace into my emotional state.

When the plumber came Tuesday morning he confirmed what everyone dreads - it was a slab leak. My hopes were dashed and I found myself slipping into that world of fear. But I was able to catch myself and remind myself that "It is what it is. See what he says." So after about a half hour the verdict was in. We caught it really early, very little damage to the wall, the line that broke went only to the refrigerator. There was a very easy and affordable fix!

Now think of all the worry I avoided by bringing myself into the present moment instead of dwelling on what horrors could have resulted. Look at all the peace I brought to myself, my husband and the house. It takes practice but it is possible to transform our reality of worry, stress and fear into peace with a few simple changes in what we focus on. We don't have to think rosy outcomes, just look at right now.

I wish you PEACE that lasts a lifetime!

Share how you bring Peace into your life.