Sunday Journal Prompt

“Peace of mind comes the moment you come to peace with the contents of your mind.”

 – Rasheed Ogunlaru
 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of sharing journal prompts with participants at a wellness retreat in Hocking Hills, Ohio—a place said to have healing properties. Prior to my first session, my mind was still spinning from all the input and to-do’s that come at the end of my semester of teaching. Although I’d been at the cabin overnight, I didn’t yet feel fully present, so I walked from the cabin into the woods to try to reset myself.

After journaling for a bit, I sat on a rock and just listened to the sounds of nature—the bubbling brook, the nearby woodpecker, the rustling of the leaves by squirrels, the bark of a distant dog. Allowing myself to be fully present in nature helped set aside the swirling thoughts I’d been having, as I trusted that I would accomplish my remaining to-do’s after the weekend away. Before long, I felt a sense of realignment.

How do you realign yourself? How can you make time to practice it this week?