Diving in the Sea

Nothing like a swim in the sea on the first day of the year in a very hot summer in Brazil.

The goals part had already been thought out and written a week ago, and for the first time she reduced the items on that list. This period is good for reflection. Not that anything changes in nature. This twist is just another human convention, but why not take advantage of it? It was rare for her to travel at this time. Generally, she prefers emptier places or staying at home.

But that year was different. She was different.

On that first day of the year, she was with her family, on a crowded beach. On the first day, she went into the sea alone. Breathing and aware of her breathing, she walked along the sand to fully feel that experience. Suddenly, the swing of her emotions.

For a long time she believed that all her effort would take her somewhere calm, peaceful and predictable. But with each calm, new challenges came, demanding new responses from her. Just like at sea. For each wave, she had to respond in a new way.

The sea that day was rough, with a current pulling to the right and she realized that the demands on her legs were different too. At times, she had to dive, at others, she had to jump over the waves. And she began to enjoy and experiment with new possibilities, turning her body from one side to the other, floating with her back to the sea and kicking her legs. She enjoyed each new experience, as if she were a curious child with a new toy.

There, washed by the salt water, she felt that it was possible to live open to what the sea called life, or the life called the sea. From this, she considered playing with the different possibilities she has to play with the waves called opportunities. She considered taking some of her experience at sea into real life. She left there open to the dry waves of life that always arrive. And so, another year began, believing she had a new outlook.

To Cultivate Peace

I recently read that “if there is a little peace in us, there will be a place in the world where peace exists.”

I consider this quote as a sign of resistance and a counterpoint against so much of today’s overwhelming news. It's a way of not surrendering and not letting yourself be overwhelmed by the wave of fear and hopelessness.Psychoanalytically speaking, you will be detached in relation to an Other - in this case, war.

The point here is not to be indifferent to the people suffering.If you are physically distant from where war is happening, the invitation is not to get lost in your own projections of fear, and therefore not be able to do anything practical to help. By being able to see yourself from the outside, you may get a concrete idea of ​​what to do. Donating money for example may help you connect to an institution that deals directly with the situation.

Another option might be to try and cultivate a space of peace within yourself. 

By cultivating a garden of inner peace, others can benefit and enjoy your beauty. 

You will be able to offer something more, beyond your own despair.