The rays of the sun warms my soul and awakens my spirit. The cool breeze feels like a river of air flowing through my body, bringing comfort to my troubled heart. In this moment, my worries fall away like leaves from a tree. The birds sing a joyful melody. The soft pillow of clouds drifts slowly across the open sky, each carrying with it the anxious thoughts and I watch them fade into the distance. I know the darkness will return, but for just this moment, these few minutes, my soul can rest.

When the stress of life becomes too much, I will find these simple pleasures and escape to a place of peace and serenity. Living minute by minute, dwelling in the present moment, leaving the past in the past and letting tomorrow’s troubles be tomorrow’s troubles. 

When I dwell too much on the mistakes of the past, I remind myself that mistakes are how we learn and grow. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy and get consumed with self-hate and regret. But here in this moment, gazing into the wide open sky, hearing the birds sing, and feeling the air flowing through my heart, I find my moment of clarity and hope.