In March of 2020 I stopped going to the local fitness club. Prior to then, I had been swimming several days a week and the exercise and the solitude grounded me, balanced me, and gave me peace.
It took a while, but over the last 2+ years of the pandemic, while I missed swimming, I found other ways to find solitude, balance, and peace. Walking outdoors, gardening, and playing my guitar have given some of that same solitude, balance and peace.
Then, two weeks ago, I rejoined the fitness club. I got back into the water and started to swim. My entire system remembered. Waves of solitude, balance, and peace arrived.
When I’m swimming, I know that whatever problems are going on in my life don’t go away. The terribleness in the world doesn’t stop. Working for justice and advocating for a just world for all continues.
And I am so glad to swim again, too.
Where do you find solitude, balance, and peace?
Kirk Moore is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He's been a member of the Mental Health Network Board and is also a therapeutic musician, playing music at the bedside for patients - to help bring about the relaxation response to help healing. Find out more at therapeuticmusic.org