Where I Find My Peace

Jeff and I have been married now for nearly 14 years and while we’ve worked very hard together for all of those years, the time has passed quickly. Jeff and I have really good and deep discussions about all sorts of things. We are alike in some ways, but very different in others. Every time we’ve gotten into a discussion about goals and what we most desire in life, my answer to Jeff has always been that, above all, I desire peace in my life. For 14 years, this statement has been, I think, the most difficult for Jeff to understand. I think though that he is finally coming around. Last week, when I turned the tv on, Joyce Meyer was giving a lesson on peace. Thanks to the internet, Jeff and I were able to watch it together that evening. http://www.joycemeyer.org/OurMinistries/Podcasts/podcastdownloads.htm  (the December 12th video dowload on Hold Your Peace.)

Jeff asked me where I find my peace and I explained. Peace is inside of me and I feed my Peace by finding things that calm me and restore me. Memories of places I have been and found “stillness” help to bring me peace. My relationships with my dogs also bring me much peace.

I have spent most of my days over the last 20 years speaking with people over the phone and in person about the chaos and upset in their lives. For 20 years I think I’ve been a good listener first and somewhere after the listening and empathy, I have tried to be a help to my clients in fixing their dog problems. I have wished, much of the time, that I could be better at teaching and showing people how to find the peace and stillness that their dogs can bring them.  I suppose, though, that much like Jeff, who had never considered peace to be in his list of desires, many other people haven’t considered the value of peace either. So, I continue to plant the seed with the hope that, in time, it will take hold and begin to grow.

I invite you to listen to Joyce Meyer speak about holding your peace. Then think about that lesson and how you can use it to improve the relationship that you have with your dogs. What can you do to stop the upset and aggravation you sometimes (or often) feel? Maybe posting your suggestions here will give ideas to other people.

We can find the peace we seek within our animal companions. We may have to take some actions to do things a little differently, and change is hard, I know. If you desire peace and go after it the way you would a promotion at work or finding a way to buy that new iphone you’ve had your eye on, you will make it happen.

Yours Truly,

Cyndy Douan