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The sound of rustling fall leaves, the smell of spring’s first cut grass, or posted up near a river with a ice cold lemonade, what great moments these are. However simple, they conjure up deep feelings of satisfaction and ease. But what exactly is it, and where can we find more?

Personally, I love taking naps on rainy days, drinking hot cocoa near a crackling fire upon a winter’s night, some privacy with a book while bundled up in blankets, an intimate dinner with friends and family, or a long hike with well deserved scenery. My goal is to find enjoyment in the simplest of things, regardless of what seems to be pulling me down that day or week. A step in the right direction always preludes a better life.

Is it really found upon the rolling hills, near rushing rivers, or thousands of miles away from home and problems; where does it reside? Moments of joy? Desirable memories? Purposeful experiences? As far as human nature goes, we all in the end want a simple, peaceful life, but we know it’s much easier said than done… The sun isn’t out, clouds are gloomy, our dog ate our theoretical homework, we haven’t had our cup of joe, and we woke up on the wrong side of the bed all in the same day. Don’t fret – we can’t give up!

Finding “peace” takes some time and participation. First, we must be willing to take that first step. To commit to a better tomorrow, today. Wouldn’t it be great to have a community of care, to reside in a home filled with belonging, to own a body of strength, and live with a soul at ease? You probably read that and thought, “yeeaaahhhh… that’s great… but… that’s a lot of effort.”  It does sound like a big change, but it isn’t! All we need to do is open up the doors of possibility; with a little creativity and patience we can create a life of gratitude and joy. Yes, right here in the Fox Cities! This series will offer some inspiration for achieving gratitude and joy right here and now.

Seriously, life is too important to just let it slide. Instead of, “There’s too much to do and so little time,” we need to believe, “There’s too much to do, so let’s not waste time!” In our hectic lives sometimes peace and happiness seem to get sidelined by stress. But it is important not to give up. We all need inspiration (p.s. that’s why I’m here)! We need to re-invest our time in self-fulfilling activities, rather than life draining ones. This can be a fantastic adventure with limitless potential, it’s just how much we want out of it. Don’t think this isn’t just a bunch of mumbo jumbo. As Helen Keller said, “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” We can find ways to create memories and invigorate our spirit in this monotonous world we live in. Yes, right here in the Fox Cities!

The question remains, how? Well, let us save most of that answer for later as this blog series unfolds. However, let us spend a moment to just imagine how we can best spend out time. Maybe in spring, we can clean out our dirty cars, dust out our closets, and rid ourselves of old habits. After that, we can enjoy the splendor of nature reappearing while on a nature walks at Plamann Park. Possibly this summer, we can enjoy the countless community events from big events like Country USA and Mile of Music to 4th of July fireworks; while not forgetting the small precious ones, like having a refreshing glass of lemonade bought from the little girl down the street or visiting an outdoor movie theater.

Summer offers so much potential for enjoyment. From canoeing and barbeques to strawberry picking and yoga outside. Perhaps in fall, we can sit back around a campfire, or adventure around to taste new foods that the Fox Cities has to offer, whether it be Muslim cuisine or the farmer markets corn on the cob. All we have to do is change that “maybe,” “possibly,” and “perhaps” into “of course we will,” “sounds like fun,” and “let’s do it!” There are so many things we can do to fill up our calendar, but we should always remember our objective is reflection on what we do, create gratitude for what we have and to appreciate those we love.

C.S. Lewis a British writer and lay theologian says, “you can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” We only have one shot, one go at what we call life; so we might as well do what we can. There’s no time to waste, were on the hunt, for there is no greater treasure other than peace of mind.