RAOKA – Serenity

Time got away from me this month.  I had signed on to participate in RAOKA, in which a bunch of bloggers post on a single topic on the first Wednesday of the month.  I got my reminder last week, but we were leaving for a vacation and I didn’t get around to writing anything.  So now the first Wednesday of the month has arrived, and I’m going to get this post in before the day is over. 

The month’s topic is Serenity.  To me, serenity is a feeling of peace, happiness, melancholy, and contentment all rolled into one.  In my life, I find serenity to be a combination of external environment and internal thoughts and feelings.

I have had several serene moments during the past week.  For our recent vacation, we took a cruise to the Bahamas.  Aboard the ship I spent a good bit of time relaxing and staring out over the deep blues of the ocean.  The sun shone warmly, yet a gentle breeze kept the temperatures pleasant.  I was sitting in a comfortable deck chair, reclined and relaxed.  My mind was at peace, with no thoughts of a busy hectic life.  I felt happy, with my family, enjoying our time together.  This, to me, is serenity.

Another bit of serenity came on the last night of our cruise.  Our daughter wanted some time to play with other kids, so we signed her in to the kids’ camp, and my wife and I were left to spend a few peaceful moments together.  We walked to the upper most deck and to the very front of the ship.  It was around 9:00 at night, and mostly dark with very little lighting in this area.  The only light that worked its way to our area was from the other parts of the well lit ship.  Surprisingly, this part of the ship was mostly deserted.  It was just my wife and I, and one other couple.  The temperature was perfect, with the chilly ocean breeze blocked off by the rear of the ship, allowing only small wisps of breeze to reach our secluded little spot.  We sat on the deck and reclined against the slope of the ship.  The sea was black and quiet.  The stars were bright and twinkling.  We sat still and quietly discussed the week’s events; of the fun we had.  We both felt a quiet peaceful happiness.  This is serenity.

Serenity isn’t limited to vacations though.  I often find little bits of serenity during my week.  My favorite is to walk outside after the sun sets, when most people have headed inside for the evening.  There is a quiet stillness in the neighborhood.  Sometimes my daughter will come out with me.  It’s our own special time together; a time we’ve shared since she was a little newborn baby.  We walk outside in the relative darkness and look up at the stars.  Sometimes I’ll carry her around the side of the house and into the back yard.  She’ll hug me tight as we walk through the dark shadows.  Then we both look up and marvel at the twinkling lights in the sky.  This is serenity.

What are your thoughts on serenity?  Do you have a favorite serene moment?  I’d love to hear from you in the comments section.  And, when you’re done here, be sure to head over to Jane Be Nimble to see some more great ROAKA posts on Serenity.

Tagged as: RAOKA, Vacation