I’d Rather Have Peace

Roman & I went for a walk today for the first time in awhile. We’d been a bit home-bound lately. First I was sick with that kidney thing and then I was prepping for our Halloween party. So we ventured out today and I was taken back by the difference a couple of weeks makes. Last time we were out it felt like summer & today there was a harsh chill in the air. The leaves are changing quickly. Nature is drying up & falling away as winter approaches. Winter approaches… Those words sound threatening somehow. Getting through the cold, harsh winter up here will be a challenge, that’s for sure. I think we’re up for it though. For now, I am enjoying these last bits of autumn as much as possible. We’ll have plenty more lovely walks before the snow falls & the ground turns to ice, dirt, and slush.

Lately I’ve had a few instances where I’ve had to decide between “being right” and “having peace.” Which is to say that I’ve been faced with some types of confrontation. I’ve been thinking a lot about it and I’ve realized how drastically I’ve changed over the years. When I was younger, drama was such a part of my life that, in some ways, I thrived on it. There were always arguments with friends or enemies to be had. There was always something to disagree over with family. Romantic relationships were a breeding ground for drama & pain. The older (and wiser?) that I get, the further I carry myself away from all of that. I have ended many relationships and transformed the ways that I spend my time. I have worked hard to create a life of relative peace and joy. There are still occasions where conflict arises — that’s life, you can’t always avoid it. But what I’ve learned is that sometimes — when it does pop up — I can still choose peace. Sometimes that means that I won’t “be right.” I won’t “win the fight,” so to speak. But I’m really okay with that. I’d rather have peace. It’s been a slow transition to this place. It’s taken a lot of personal reflection and I’ve had to work really hard to ignore my ego. I have always thought of kindness as one of my most important values and I am finding more ways to live it now. I am really glad to be here.

The longer that I live, the more that I believe that there is nothing more important than peace. For me, peace comes from avoiding & extinguishing conflict. It also comes from practicing gratitude and being content with all of my blessings. They say that happiness isn’t getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got. I couldn’t agree more.

Happy Wednesday, loves. Here’s hoping that your day is full of beauty & joy. xo

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