A lighthouse serves as both a welcome home and a warning to stay clear. In some parts of the world there are dangerous rocks and boulders that will destroy a ship or boat if they drift too close. So lighthouses serve as an important source of information as their beams scatter out across the seas.
It made me think about how we all look for guidance from time to time or a place to regain calm and equilibrium. We all seem to have a place or a person or a thing that helps restore that balance that we need in our lives. Sometimes we need to think through a difficult matter to make sure we don't make bad mistakes. It may be a different source but it serves the same purpose. Sometimes it helps to remind ourselves what those things are so when we get overwhelmed or too tired to think about it, we just know what we need to do, where we need to go.
For many of my family and friends, their place of guidance and refuge is their faith. Even a short time spent in prayer or meditation can calm their soul and give them the courage to face difficult times or just to renew their spirit to carry on. It might happen in a temple, cathedral or simply outdoors under a canopy of stars. Their faith is their beam of light in the darkness.
I've heard more than a few of my family mention being on the water as a place to renew and restore the weary. My father was one of those people who loved water whether it was a lake or the Gulf of Mexico. He spent many happy hours aboard our cabin cruiser that he built with his own two hands. Fishing for ling, mackerel or other tasty critters (crabs, shrimp and oysters) come to mind. But he was not averse to taking along a good book to read and just bob around in the water, listening to waves lap gently alongside the boat. He used that time to think about hard things, to just reflect on life and what it means. And I can't think of a better use of your time then to think on big questions and topics. It is one of those things that make us human. We don't always find answers but just the journey, the contemplating is worth doing.
My daughter in law has a special affinity for the beach. She loves to dig her toes in the sand and let the salty water wash across her tootsies. The hot walk across the sand is immediately relieved by the cool, refreshing water from the Gulf. She has passed that love of all things beach related to her children who are always up for a day at the beach.
Others I know are mountain people. Give them a snow capped mountain and they are in heaven. A cup of hot cocoa or spicy tea, a picture window and they are content for hours. Those who ski will race you to the lifts to spend time on the slopes. There are few I know who really enjoy a trek along mountain trails in the spring. Seeing the wildflowers and luscious green leaves makes even the most tense and jaded person stop and just breathe in the air.
I enjoy all of the things I've mentioned but one thing I have not mentioned is pursuing art. By art, I mean any and all creative endeavors. It might be painting or crafting. It could be writing, just for fun. Or maybe music is your thing. Some listen to their favorite music to relax and unwind. But for others, it is creating music that takes them to that happy place. My oldest grandson is a musician. He has been interested in music since he was a wee tyke. He plays guitar and piano and as he got older got interested in composing music, as well as the production of music. If you hear him noodling around with his guitar in his room, you know he is finding his comfort and joy. He can do that for hours but it is his way of letting go of stress and restoring a sense of well being.
One last thing I'll mention is food. There is even a term we use called comfort food. So many celebrations and holidays are intricately entwined with foods that are familiar and comforting. I remember my Granny Bessie's wonderful grits. They took at least an hour to cook and were the best warm food to eat on a winter day. She must have infused them with some extra butter, along with a huge dash of love to make me remember them after all these years. I have heard some folks say it is not Thanksgiving (or you name the event) without so in so's --- tater salad, cornbread dressing, home grown 'maters. A friend of mine even wrote an essay on a Tomato Sandwich as a memory from her childhood. Those are things that bring instant comfort and often a flood of happy memories.
Whatever is your lighthouse, giving a warning or a comfort across the darkness, we all have them. When times get rough, when things are just too hard to tolerate, remember your places of refuge and relief. There is no need to suffer or be in anguish when often what you need is a break from the routine. Take time to breathe, relax, commune with nature or whatever it is that makes your heart sing. It's all out there waiting on you to take your turn searching for that beam across the water.
Happy Trails,
Marcia
