At Home by Monica Pena

I feel most at home in a magnificent place I call Peace.

It’s not always easy to get to, but once I’m there I feel a deep sense of security and comfort. I can relax, let my hair down, and kick my feet up. It’s here that I can fully surrender, fully be me. When I’m at Peace, there is no judgement or criticism. They’re not allowed in. Guilt, shame, fear, and anxiety frequently try to visit when I’m at Peace. But, they, too, must stay outside. You see, if I allow them in, it would ruin the beautiful home I’ve built in and around Peace.

I noticed my Peace looks different from others’ Peace. That used to bother me. I thought it needed to look a certain way, to feel a certain way. I’ve since discovered I can create my home, my Peace, to look, sound, fell, and taste any way I please. And, that space, does, and will evolve.

Currently, my Peace is surrounded by a lush rainforest with an ocean view. When I’m at Peace, I can hear the waves crashing and the birds singing. IT’s the most breathtaking at sunrise or sunset. Multi-colored flowers line the path through the fine sand to the water’s edge. The nearby mountain is filled with gigantic trees offering healing shade and refuge; climbing it always refreshes and invigorates me. I always seem to get deep rest when I’m at Peace.

The journey to Peace can be tricky at times. It requires that I be alert and mindful of the sharp turns, detours, and obstructions threatening to throw me off the path to Peace. The more I visit, the easier it is to arrive quickly and blissfully settle in.

Whenever I’m at Peace, I can feel my heart being purified and my spirit restored. My mind is transformed and renewed. Whenever I spend time at Peace, I am strengthened and revived. I’ still learning the various hidden paths to Peace and i often wonder how others come to find their Peace, what it looks like and what they do to protect it.

No matter where I go or what I do, I feel most at home in a magnificent place I call Peace.

This was originally published in House of Compassion, a publication of Retreat House Spirituality Center.