Reflections: How Do We Find the Road to Calm in Chaotic Times?
“So raise your hands to Heaven and pray that we’ll be back together someday. Tonight we need your sweet caress, hold us in the darkness. Tonight you calm Our restlessness, you relieve Our sadness.” Anon
Reflections: Finding A Road to Calm...
I must confess that the incredibly tragic events of the last few days, in Japan, have left me feeling sad, numb and spent. Like many, it is hard to tear ourselves away from the pictures, the news, the many stories of survival and those of sadness… Yet, it is also true that we must carry on our daily lives and find ways to honor those who were lost by contributing and appreciating the days we do have.
Below, I share some ways to find the calm by recognizing the value of the present and living in the moment; in the now. I also have borrowed some of the general thoughts that some of my fellow bloggers wrote about today or recently, and they should help us all find that road to calm amidst the chaos. The highlighted links will take you to their posts.
What do we need to find some calm in times of chaos?
✿Offer assistance wherever needed. Donate. Japan Society. Red Cross. JCCCNC. Causes Exchange.
✿Stay connected with those you love and what gives you joy…. and let them know you care.
✿March 14th is White Day in Japan similar to Valentine’s Day… a little pleasure helps move us all forward in times of pain…
✿Appreciate the good in your life, the good in others, and share your goodwill with others. Honor peace and justice.
✿Share your Gratitude; name them and remember them.
✿Reach out to others and cheer them on. We are not alone and all humans appreciate contact and communication.
✿Find your center. Follow your imagination. Imagine you are flying free like a bird enjoying the calm in the sky.
✿Continue your commitments to those around you; to those who depend on you. Enjoy your creature comforts.
✿Remember, we are not alone… It is a human quality to be fascinated with unfolding tragedy even as we feel heartbreaking pain about events… We can take a deep breath and send a prayer.
✿Time heals all pain… eventually. Take some time to reflect, recharge… taking time away during stressful times can give us comfort.
✿Stand in a rainbow and remember the joy we get in simple beauty. Enjoy some music Or some art outdoors.
✿Take some time to step away, back away from the scene, re-runs add to pain; they don’t make them go away… Inhale and release the pain. Let it dissipate.
✿Refresh and remember the strength and the resilience of the human spirit. See the courage in us and around us and embrace it.
Join the Blog Hop below this week and next. As always, the rules (check here and below) are simple; ✿♡✿Add a post that made you happy… or just any post you wish to share with others! ✿♡✿ More information below. More to come…
MeetUp Monday-Sunday Two Weeks Long Blog Hop for Blog Posts
MeetUp Monday-Sunday Two Weeks Long Facebook & NetworkedBlogs Blog Hop
“The most intense conflicts, if overcome, leave behind a sense of security and calm that is not easily disturbed…” Carl Gustav Jung
Reflections: Finding a Road to Calm...
✿The rebuilding will take place and our help and contribution will ensure that too. Believe in the law of attracting good by giving generously to Japan relief funds.
✿Anything that adds light helps us all.. Celebrate your Birthday. The day we were born is precious; birth and death are twins meeting us all eventually. Celebrate each day of life… Smell the flowers. Enjoy a good meal. Read a good book. Walk. Sing. Dance. Pray… Honor your fellow man. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
✿Remember home is in our hearts first and then believe we can rebuild in ingenious ways, in many places…
✿Appreciating the beauty of a smile, even the beauty in nature, in difficult times helps us remember the good times and renews our hope. Nature is as fierce as she is beautiful…
Join our Blog Hop below. The rules (check here and below) are simple; ✿♡✿Add a post that made you happy… or just any post you wish to share with others! ✿♡✿ This is a two week hop so you can change your original post in week two… 🙂
MeetUp Monday-Sunday Two Weeks Long Blog Hop for Blog Posts
MeetUp Monday-Sunday Two Weeks Long Facebook & NetworkedBlogs Blog Hop
Did you join our new Blog Hop? Read the rules below; ✿♡✿Again, add a post that made you happy or any post you wish to share!✿♡✿
STEPS/RULES: The rules are easy peasy.
♥Add your post to Linky #1,
♥add your fan page/networked blog (if you have one) to Linky #2,
♥leave me a comment or question especially if we haven’t already met,
♥Click on the links above your post & visit as many fellow blogger posts as you wish,
♥comment/like their post, and/or fan their Facebook page/Networked blog,
♥Let them know you’re from our Weekly MeetUp Blog Hop ~ they will return the love
♥and spread the word.
✿♡✿Thank you All!✿♡✿
Positive Motivation Tip: Follow the road that calls your heart; it will lead you to that place of calm…
Related Articles
- Thoughts of Japan (rakstagemom.wordpress.com)
- Japan Quake 2011 (iridescentjinsei.wordpress.com)
- Thank You Jesus (doeshehearyourcry.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: A Desert Road in the UAE via Wikipedia A Gold Mine Trail via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
I believe, even as hard as it seems, God has his hands in this mess. I hope you do not take this as me being unsympathetic. Not what I intended to say.
Not at all Jackie… I do hope God’s hands are healing the mess and correcting the violence. I’ve never been comfortable with war and I still don’t believe it is ever the answer; ever!
Thanks,
Eliz
A good push through our day…. Thanks..
My heart reaches out to all the people living in Japan… and hoping for the Ones who couldnot survive the Chaos … RIP!!!
Yes… me too. May all who have lost their lives in chaotic events around the world RIP. 🙁
Thanks,
Eliz
“…it is hard to tear ourselves away from the pictures, the news, the many stories of survival and those of sadness… Yet, it is also true that we must carry on our daily lives and find ways to honor those who were lost by appreciating the days we do have…”
we all feel sometimes like a Sisyphus …
Yes, we do and yet we must carry on… There is so much going on and I am left speechless and prayer helps. I don’t like injustice no matter how people try to justify their actions; it is not right….
Eliz
Hi Elizabeth, you certainly do your part in “Reach out to others and cheer them on.”
It does give you a good feeling doesn’t it? 🙂
Yes, we all get some good out of it… Lately, the world events are testing our cheerfulness so I look for answers within.
Thanks,
Eliz
These are indeed very sad times and helps to sharpen our focus and grasp life with both hands.
Great post 🙂
PiP
Thank you and we are being forced to see the value of NOW and not dillydally with our lives. The upheavals and violence are quite jarring and yet underlying it are hints of peace and goodwill.
May God’s good prevail… I am, naturally, concerned. 🙁
Thanks,
Eliz
Elizabeth, this is a brilliant post in more ways than one. Your empathy overflows for the people in Japan . . . but we must carry on our daily lives in spite of the tragedy.
Let’s appreciate each day as it dawns, and welcome all that it has in store for us. Reach out to others and show some love. Thanks for the list of great posts to help us through the chaos to the calm.
Thanks Barb and I did add one of yours to the mix. It is like reaching for straws in the middle of a great fire. I would like to see peaceful resolutions to the chaos and violence. I don’t see the good in wars. Between Mother Nature and the acts of man, we have our hands full. 🙁
Eliz
All wonderful ideas to find peace amidst chaos!
Amen… the goal indeed! 🙂
Thanks,
Eliz
Beautiful post, Eliz.
Peace.
Thank you Nancy! 🙂
Eliz
Thank you again, Eliz, for bringing us a plan of action to a happier state of mind…I hope reading these comments brings you peace, joy and the satisfaction that your contributions help others, as well. 🙂
I will join the hop either this morning or later in the day. 🙂
Writing brings me all of the above… It helps me clarify my own thoughts too. I appreciate your feedback. 🙂
Thnak you,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, All the chaos and unrest of late just reaffirms my quest to live in the moment. THIS moment is all we have and we need to make the most of it. Notice the little things, remember to tell those you love that you LOVE them. Stop, smell the roses… listen to the traffic whirring by… smell the new growth of spring bursting through the earth…raise your face to the sun and feel the warmth. It is all about THIS moment.
Thanks for the post.
Yes it is and the moment I’d like more of is the warm weather… I love spring and the sun and all the wonderful forms of life that blossom and birth during that period… The NOW is here and I’m paying attention to it. 🙂
Thanks,
Eliz
E, thank you for the beautiful and timely post! It is so important for us to be grateful for our own blessings while keeping the suffering of others at the forefront of our thoughts…
Thank you Rosa and those wonderful paintings you share daily do help… 🙂
Eliz
Thank you also reminding us of community; supporting and appreciating others as we go about our lives.
The tsunami has taken a terrible toll on Japan and we our all affected by it.
My prayer is that peace prevail and hope return.
B
My sentiments too. I pray about peace daily and that those who have more will be judicious in their use of it… So much going on and you wonder, what next?
Thanks,
Eliz
It is very hard to tear ourselves away from the pictures, the news, the many stories of survival and those that have lost love ones, and everything they own. We think we have problems, till tragedy like this takes place in our world. Keep these people in our prayers, and one day may they see hope again.
The road to calm- a very inspiring thought, and Eliz,you did a fabulous job of writing it beautifully. Reading your posts are so inspirational, giving some good thoughts admist troubled waters.
Thank you Penny, I really appreciate all the feedback as I was trying to make sense of all the violence, disasters, upheavals in the world… The political ones are even more disturbing… God help us all.
Eliz
Cool blog!
I just found your blog through the Follow Me Back Tuesday blog hop! Have a great week.
Amanda @ nutritionistreviews.com
Hi Amanda,
Thank you for stopping by, I believe I visited you and have followed you via GFC for my blogger Blog.
Have a great week ahead and I appreciate the visit. 🙂
Eliz
Hi Eliz, I have been unfortunately experiencing my own tragic events this past week… The untimely death of my daughter “Lady” who was 33 years old. This past week, I often thought of what was occuring in Japan, and realize that the world is suffering in many ways….nations, tribes, and all people are striving for freedom and the cessation of suffering. Thank God, there is hope in the collective and in the Spirit that combines all of our experiences in this life. I hope to begin posting again next week as I reflect on the lost of my daughter, whom I loved with all of my heart.
Walter
Oh dear, dear Walter!
I am so sorry to read about your loss. My deepest sympathies go out to you and your loved ones… I can’t even pretend to have the right words or answers… but know you are in my heart and in my prayers. Again, I am so sorry and sending you virtual hugs… Will stop by your blog to share my condolence.
Elizabeth
So sorry to hear about your loss. There are not enough words to express my sympathy thoughts to you and your family. I know you will miss your daughter dearly. Hold on to the memories, and the treasured moments of life you shared together.
God Bless You- He is our comfort and our Pillar in all things.
Penny
Thank you Penny for extending your condolences to Walter. His daughter was a creative writer/poet and a beautiful soul… We are all seeking calm in the chaos.
Eliz
Thank you for a wonderful, calming post. Painful times oftentimes bring us back to those things of importance in life.
@Walter, my sincere condolences. May you find strength and solace in her memory.
Thank you Cecelia and yes, with pain comes a keen understanding of life and what is of greater value…
Sending calming prayers your way Walter!
Eliz
I would like to thank everyone for the kind words in this difficult time for me. And for the beautiful Spirit that pervades through the comments here concerning our world and our community. We must always have a bond that transcend understanding and defines the true meaning of compassion.
Once again thank you
Walter
You are on my heart and in my prayers Walter… I do hope you are shoring up with those you love and I want you to know that you are welcome to email me and I’ll respond. Peace within and without.
Thnak you for your message of compassion and care too.
Eliz