Settling into seat 8F I pulled my jacket off and tucked it into my carry-on bag. I would not be needing that in Phoenix.

I looked forward to the sunshine and warmth ahead after the negative-number temperatures of the last week.  In went the jacket.  Out came my reading glasses, IPad, magazine, head phones.  Headphones!  Where are my headphones?

I always travel with them.  They are the noise canceling kind that block the roar of the plane engines, the voices of the passengers visiting, the cries of babies in the back, and the intercom messages from the cockpit.  I block these so that I can enjoy the time to read, sleep or meditate in the headphone secluded space of rain falling, ocean waves, or the tweeting of birds; whichever seems to be my pleasure of the moment.

With a sigh I felt the aggression of the engines lift the plane into the sky as 9F, (who obviously had a hearing issue), began to explain to 9E, in his best not-so-quiet voice, why he was selling his home in New Jersey to move to Phoenix.

I had a hearing issue too - for this hour and forty five minute flight my headphones were happily next to my meditation chair at home.  Hummppfff!

After reading an article or two in a magazine I laid it to the side, closed my eyes and began breathing. The deep in and out rhythm my body sensed as the call to meditate.  To enjoy calm.  To go within to the space of quiet where the outer world drops away.  Where the deepest thoughts of my soul mix with the messages from the energy both in and out of my body.  I guard this time of meditation as a mother guards her child.  This is more than just a happy place.  This is my sacred time.  My daily ritual of flowing into calm serenity to a place which is more than one foot here and one foot there, but more like all there.  All-in, as they say in Poker, to an out of this body and fully in peace space.

The engines' roar became a soothing hum which muffled the voice of 9F.  The ping of the pilot's bell seemed to whisper the message of safety that floated by my thoughts of awareness without stopping to take residency in my space of peace.  I was there!  Not here, not asleep, but there.

Almost an hour passed when my breathing returned to the shallow breath of normality.  My eyes fluttered open as my senses returned to the awareness of my surroundings. The engines below my seat continued to spin as the mechanical dropping of the landing gear engaged.

              "And in Phoenix the homes are a STEAL right now, so from what I   
               clear on my Jersey home, I'll  pay cash for the new one."

Seat 9F had not stopped his elaboration of his relocation.

I realized that I had successfully enjoyed the flight.  I had enjoyed a time of meditation and for a brief period  blocked the outside forces of noise, chaos and distractions.  I smiled at the reminder that calm serenity can be accomplished any place.  Any time.    The noise of the outside doesn't have to detract from this.  The outer world we cannot control.  It is the Quiet Within that we search for.   It is the Quiet Within we can find... Even without headphones.
                                                        ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Pennie's Life Lesson:
Searching for tranquility does not require a vacuum of silence. Real peace is found within - even during the distraction of life.
                                                   All Rights Reserved 
                                     Copyright © 2013 Pennie Hunt 

Birthing is an amazing thing.

Twenty eight years ago it was the anticipated contractions of the all too familiar process of birth.

 I had done this before.

 The morning was average.  Bustling around to get Jeremiah, my oldest son, off to school and then after gaining the attention of Sarah, my 4 year old, long enough to dress and  supervise her version of breakfast , there was vacuuming, dishes, and laundry.  A normal day until a strange feeling began to come over me.  Not quite sick.  Not quite well.  The flu maybe?  Did I mention I had done this before?  Maybe I should have assessed the signs better, but finally around five o’clock I decided to call my doctor.  Yes, they loved this – time to go home and a pregnant woman calls. 

Sitting up from the white papered examining table, while feeling what I was now convinced was a contraction, my doctor said,

       “Well I think we will have a baby late in the night or early morning.” 

This was about two weeks earlier than expected. Suddenly thoughts rushed through my head of things I needed to do.  Pack a bag, (should have done that already), make arrangements for the kids to stay at Grandma’s,  get groceries for the family since I will be gone a few days  - my mind dashed through my self-inflicted must get done list. 

It was six thirty as I was packing my bag when the pain thrust me backwards onto the bed. 

By six forty five we were on the way to the hospital.

At nine thirty 6 lb. 14 oz. Jameson Tanner, (J.T.) arrived. 

Birthing is an amazing thing.

Anticipating, waiting, expecting, laboring, (in every sense of the word), kneads together like dough creating a form of beauty.  A work of love.  A design of art.  A breaking off of oneself into a separate creation of its own, yet forever tied to you by the invisible cords of anticipating, waiting, expecting, laboring, beauty and love twined together. 

My child was that and more.  He glowed in my life for 22 years as I held him, touched him, encouraged him and yes, watched him maneuver into a young man separate from me, yet corded to me. 

Now I honor his birthday as a celebration of his creation.  Even though he is no longer physically with me it remains his birthday and by way of counting, his 28th.  The birthing was difficult.  But, oh, so worth it.  I believe J.T. was gifted to me for the purpose of learning life lessons – his and mine. And in many ways he is the reason for these writings about living your Spirit and being Brave in the process.

After anticipating, waiting, expecting, laboring, (in every sense of the word), the Writings From The Corner of Spirit and Brave is born.  I expect in the years to come I will hold it, touch it, encourage it and watch it maneuver into something separate from me, yet corded to me. 

This is my gift to you for the purpose of learning from life lessons – yours and mine. 

Birthing is an amazing thing. 
                                                        ~~~~~~~~~~

                                                  All Rights Reserved 
                                     Copyright © 2013 Pennie Hunt