​QUIET WITHIN

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, headphones.  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.
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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."
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YOUR TURN...                  
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand that no matter what chaos  you are feeling in your life YOU have the power to feel peace within.     Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below.  And please feel free to email me  at:
                [email protected]. 
                          Thank you!  
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                 Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
         This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
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