While hiking in the Olympic National Park rainforest in Washington last June, we heard about a book titled "One Square Inch of Silence" that had created quite a stir. The author decided that the "one square inch" was in this park and placed a jar for thoughts in that location making the immediate area over used and not so silent. When asking the ranger about this he offered the following:
"1 acre = 43,560 feet; 1 square foot = 144 square inches. So that means that there are 6,272,640 square inches in an acre. There are 876,669 acres of wilderness in Olympic National Park, according the NPS red book. So according to my math, Olympic National Wilderness Act protects Five trillion, four hundred ninety nine billion, twenty nine million, thirty six thousand and hundred and sixty, square inches of silence. I am glad that visitors haven't decided to put a jar for thoughts at each one."
We laughed at this even though we know that visiting peaceful places in nature rejuvenate the soul and assist us in feeling good. The reality is none of us live in complete solitude. We live with stress and the pressures of daily life. As we deal with these dynamics, we often worry and fret about what to do. We attempt to escape through diversions or seek silence outside ourselves yet it rarely brings peace or stillness within.
I have come so far from the woman I used to be a decade or more ago who was overwhelmed and stressed by lists of things I required myself to do. I am not on the level of the Dalai Lama, yet I enjoy a measure of peace now as a direct result of connecting deep within to my sacred heart and my True Self.
While meditating I asked for a message on this subject. This is what I received: "Be at peace, as Jesus said. So many master teachers have said this and yet how do you "be at peace" in the very center of your life's storms? Choose peace. This is a simple answer and yet it takes a lifetime of practice to live it. The practice of peace is a daily practice and with every day this simple exercise of connecting with your Sacred Heart or True Self, deepens self-acceptance and self-love. There is forgiveness involved and embracing of your history for you all have history. There is recognizing that you must be very kind to yourself and others. If you get into a space of feeling upset, which takes you from your peaceful center, then there is the opportunity to use forgiveness of others and mostly yourself in order to be restored to that space of peace. Attachments to being right, addictions to judgment and gossip can get in the way. It is all a matter of choosing peace over being right, choosing peace no matter what. And when you are not successful at maintaining peace, that's OK. Be kind with yourself and forgive---then go back to practicing peace. You choose what feels best for you."
Sending you blessings of peace and love,
Linda Radford
www.lindasinsights.comQuote from the Dalai Lama:
"We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves."
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love
Carol
Tell us about yourself how I did you find us
peace
CarolDelete Comment
We are all on this path which circles our Mother Earth. We are here with open hearts awaiting yours.
May you walk in beauty
White-Bear
Apache Elder
Welcome to the Four Worlds Social Network. Please check out the various councils and share your wisdom. Thanks for joining and walk with a good step, always.
There are no coincidences you have found a place with us. This site is founded on the 4th way and the 16 principals which can be found on the front page and in the forum. Welcome to our circle of deep social networkings. Make friends with others in fact that is what I have done jumped in and said hello. We have many other councils and help is provided for tech with your page.
We also have a woman's council marked private for more in-depth sharings.
Blessings to you
Carol
Rainbow Medicine Council