"Serenity At The Bow River at Bankside"
Photograph copyright Judith Hirst-Joyeux
One of my clients asked me how to find serenity. I was taken aback! Serenity, to me, is a state of being - not a destination. I wondered if I misunderstood the concept. I looked it up.
serenity The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | Date: 2008
se·ren·i·ty / səˈrenitē/ • n. (pl. -ties) the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled: an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling city. ∎ (His/Your, etc., Serenity) a title given to a reigning prince or similar dignitary. © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008.
I realized that it is a state of being. However, it is a destination as well. I thought about where in the world I go to find serenity. I came up with "my list of serenity sites". These are my places of oasis of serenity. Here they are, in no particular order.
- The spot along the Bow at Bankside
- The angel sanctuary in my back yard
- The Fairy Tree along Fish Creek
- The secluded picnic table along Fish Creek
- The bench on our deck at 9:30am when it is cool in the summer
- The top of the rock pile at Moraine Lake when others are not around
- The hidden trail along the river close to Kananaskis Lodge
- The log by the beaver lodge on Pine Island
- The flat rock saddle on Cathedral Rock
These names will not resonate with most people. And, that is okay. These are my spots for serenity. Because each person has a unique idea of what serenity is, their destination will be quite different. It may be a beach, a park bench, a library, a cathedral... it doesn't matter.
When you are in serenity, it seems easier to feel The Divine.
Wishing you moments and places of serenity.
Many Blessings,
Judy