We had a good weekend. We focused inward... on ourselves, on our family, our pets, on our garden. We watched movies, played games (Kajal absolutely loves Uno) and focused on us. Every time a thought entered my mind relating to recent challenges with our neighbors... I literally wished it away. 

It felt great. 

To not worry, not stress... I remembered a book I read,  a series of lectures by a Buddhist monk, a scholar and peace activitst, Thic Nhat Hanh.

Thic Nhat Hahn teaches that to create peace around us and in the world, we must first be peace... 'awaken the peace with in us.' His book and his words teach us how to focus on our breathing, be in the moment... feel the peace which lives within our deepest being.

I remember his words of gratitude for the simplest things... reminding us to be grateful for something as simple as washing the dishes. In one of his lessons he tells us to practice this. To stand with warm soapy water running over our hands and instead of rushing through the process... thinking about what we'll be doing when we finish the dishes he suggest to enjoy the act, the act of washing. To be grateful that we have two healthy hands to hold the dishes and feel them, feel the fingers that move without pain, feel the warm water and be grateful that we have clean water with which to wash. 

I approached my weekend this way. I stood outside in the sun one afternoon. I watched Kajal play with a few of her friends... laughing and eating watermelon. The juice dripped down their arms and faces as they laughed and played a simple game of tag. The dogs running, nipping at their feet... prancing in the air. The colorful birds singing, eating happily at the bird feeders swinging in the air.. the sound of windchimes, dancing in the breeze. 

Simple. Joyful. Peace filled. 

It is true, we can be surrounded by chaos and feel peace. Living in gratitude... feeling the warmth of the sun and love around us.