From Chaos to Peace

Our recent decision to sell our house in Austin and move to Sedona has thrown my surroundings into a jumble as, daily, workers swarm in to prepare the house to sell. Furniture that belongs in this room has been moved to that room for staging purposes. Boxes of framed family photos and other familiar items from shelves are packed and stored. I won't see them again for months. Furnishings are clustered in the center of rooms.

Turmoil is the best way to describe what's going on with me, and I'm laughing at myself as I realize the one who teachers others to find their calm center and live from there is having difficulty practicing what she teaches. Instead, the reverse has happened. My inner peace has been disturbed by my jumbled surroundings.

To make it through, in addition to morning meditation, I've increased my conscious awareness. Do I need a drink of water? How about a walk? A short nap? Reading just for enjoyment?

As I pull in to myself and meet my own needs, the external disarray becomes less significant, and I begin to find peace again.

Last night I simply shampooed my hair and as I awoke this morning, I felt simple pleasure in the sensation of clean hair.

You write it: When chaos surrounds you, what do you do?