Peace
My grandpa used to end his letters to me, “Wishing you good health and peace.” Neither registered to me as a young person. Health was easy to take for granted. And peace meant what exactly? I wasn’t sure.
Today, I have a better idea. Peace might be the most sacred state I could desire. It’s my theme for the year.
Last week I wrote about Alysa Lui and her list of non-negotiables. What struck me wasn’t the list—it was what it gave her. Peace. You can see it when she skates. Loose. Easy. Comfortable with herself no matter the outcome.
So I started asking myself: what actually supports my peace? Not aspirationally. Practically.
The biggest one: assuming positive intent. Are we giving colleagues, friends, the people in our homes—even the customer service rep over the phone—the benefit of the doubt? When I’m intentional about believing good intent, it has become the most liberating strategy I own. The alternative is a tornado of emotions that takes much more than it gives back.
Here’s the rest of my list:
Walking in nature. Naps. Not over-talking or ruminating a cringy moment. Box breathing. Laughing—Anne LaMott calls “carbonated holiness.” Writing. A clean home with music on and my favorite candle burning. Good conversation with good friends.