I imagine a group of early humans, many thousands of years ago, gathered on the shore after a day of fishing, comparing their catches. But then, a fresh tide and stormy wind appear, pushing their little boats out to sea, forever lost. Oops.
Finally, someone thinks, “This makes no sense! Why do we spend days of time making our boats, only to see them drift away any time a storm comes? There has to be a way to keep the boats nearby!”
Protect your Vessel
Really, I think ancient mariners were far, far more intelligent than the people in the scene I just described.
I doubt anyone ever thought “No big deal if our empty boat drifts away forever and we have to start over and build a new one.”
Many, many people all over the world came up with the idea of an anchor. Or they would haul their watercraft completely on to dry land when not in use, ensuring all the labor it took to make the vessel didn’t float away.
How can we treat our mind with the same level of care?
Near Gardiner, MT
Anchors
Just like a boat, our mind and body need anchors.
Otherwise, we get adrift in thoughts, many of them unpleasant. And those thought-loops don’t solve anything, they just keep us in stress, making us feel like a boat helplessly adrift on a stormy sea.
An anchor is anything that helps your thoughts slow down.
It invites your senses to open up and notice what else is happening now.
Anchors are a tool we use to get present - aka the time zone of inner peace.
Nature is one of the most powerful and effective anchors for our attention.
Does that mean you have to get a cowboy hat, pack up, and move to Big Sky country? No. Also cause most people in Montana don’t wear cowboy hats.
It could be a natural place near you or a city park you visit a few times a week. It could be your favorite cafe or the sound of a good friend’s voice over the phone.
Time with a pet counts as nature time – as long as you are truly paying attention to your furry friend and not just passively snuggling while you watch TV.
What did you find, in your exploration from last week?
Did you come up with a list of “peace allies” - places, people, and activities you enjoy? Any candidates for a good anchor?
Rainbows come after storms and can anchor your attention in the present
Plan for Peace. Literally.
It’s ok and even preferable to have more than one anchor.
If you missed the last email or didn’t come up with a list, no worries. I’m confident you can make your list this week in 5 minutes.
Then take another 5 minutes or so to create the first, rough draft of your “peace plan.”
Really look at your average weekly schedule and find or create pockets of “peace time” - moments when you can be with your anchor.
You don’t need hours-long blocks of time.
Look for gaps of 5-20 minutes where you can disconnect from the daily whirlwind and be with your anchor/peace ally.
Again, an anchor helps you notice (and even enjoy) what is in your immediate environment, helping to slow down thoughts of the past or future.
Picture yourself stopping other activities for this chunk of time in your week, saying no to notifications and distractions, and choosing peace.
Create a rough plan for peace this week, picture yourself following through, and then try it.
Thanks for some of your precious time and attention today. Feel free to reply with any questions or comments!
All words and photos by Juniper McKelvie, except Janus photo by:
*Marie-Lan Nguyen (2009), CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8962565
This email was sent from Missoula, Montana so . . .
Thank you to the First Nations of what is now called Western Montana: the Bitterroot Séliš (Salish), the Ql̓ispé (Kalispel), and the Ksanka (Kootenai) - you can read more about all 3 nations on their website.
I also want to give thanks to the Amskapi Piikani (Blackfeet) and the Apsáalooke (Crow) First Nations because I’ve been to and enjoyed their traditional homelands in recent years. Many thanks for your hospitality.
