Wow, is this really it, the last day of the Challenge? I'm sad but happy I participated in posting from A to Z along with a slew of other fabulous bloggers. Nice job, all! Pat yourself on the back. :D
With one last letter to blog about, I conclude with smiles brought to you by the letter Z; it stands for...
ZEN
- According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Zen is defined as: "a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation."
- I also like how Urban Dictionary defines Zen: "One way to think of zen is this: a total state of focus that incorporates a total togetherness of body and mind. Zen is a way of being. It also is a state of mind. Zen involves dropping illusion and seeing things without distortion created by your own thoughts." It also continues with this definition: "Complete and absolute peace."
My zen-like focus is peace. Peace is something difficult for me to access. Why? My mind is flying around a 228mph and I am in such a rush that I fail to slow down and smell the flowers and take pleasure in the moment. I think this is a reason for why I enjoy the outdoors and traveling; I can slow down and relish in what really matters and the beauty of the world.
Julia finding her inner zen at a monastery in Xian, China.
Those moments of my life when I have felt a measure of peace have come in a variety of ways: while attending religious meetings, being in nature, before I go to bed when I can slow down my mind, and while praying. I smile in those moments where I can cast away my worries and focus on the now, the zen-like letting go of me and absorbing the refreshing feeling of revelation and/or peace.
Love it!
How do you feel zen/peace? Starting with the letter Z, what makes you smile?
Love you all. Thanks for stopping by my blog this month. I hope to continue building great relationships with y'all through our blogging/writing adventures. :)
Writing Jewels
PS: Refer to the blurb on the very top of my blogs sidebar to know why I am posting about what makes me smile. Go forward and smile!
I feel that peace when I play my guitar and when I pray.
ReplyDeleteGreat things to help promote peace.
DeleteNice balance there at your lair, peace hmmmm when I sleep?
ReplyDeleteOh, man sleep definitely is peace inducing. Good point and good on the joints.
DeleteI think 26 posts in a row were too much for my smile muscles. LOL
ReplyDeleteThat big of a workout, eh? haha Glad you smiling muscles were happy at work. :)
DeleteYay, congrats on finishing! I think we all need some zen right about now.
ReplyDeleteZeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn! --> zooming it to all the Challengers way!
DeleteI find peace in my writing, particularly when I'm writing haiku.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the A to Z! I've enjoyed your posts. So glad I met you!
Super glad to meet you too, Dana. It's been a blast and a half. :)
DeleteI am convinced that meditation is necessary for the soul, but so many people seem to have excuses about why they can't meditate yet they have time for Grey's Anatomy...
ReplyDeleteGood point. I could use more meditation time... Netflix wins out. Thanks for prompting me in the right direction. :)
DeleteCongratulations on finishing A to Z. Hopefully May will be a month of Zen!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Kate!
DeleteI could do with being a bit more zen!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't we all!
DeleteZen. Peace. When meditating, or sleeping.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing the Challenge. I enjoyed travelling with you! See you again.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Julia! We did it! I would love to have some Zen in my life. I'm sad to say goodbye to the challenge....I don't know what I'm going to do. :) Love your Blog!
ReplyDeletejules
A Dose of Jules
Loving that picture of you, very zen like. I'm like you and , religious meetings, nature, that awesome restful time before bed. Also, I just like being with my family reading books or watching a movie together. Zen rules. Great posts for the month!
ReplyDeleteLove the photo! Congratulations on finishing A to Z! I think not having to come up with another post each day will bring me some peace!
ReplyDeleteI find that peace with a good book or some nice cross-stitching. Congrats on finishing! Your posts were wonderful to read!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way with traveling. I think it's because I realize that I'll have to go back to the real world before I know it, so I take the time to really appreciate what is around me. That's pretty peaceful to me.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing!
Congrats on completing the challenge :)
ReplyDeleteI find Zen with a good book, or a long drive, or some Me time in the beach side. Your posts were a joy to read. :)
through this challenge your blogs have been inspiring and uplifting. I am adding you to my bloglist so that I stop by daily :)
ReplyDeleteHey Julia,
ReplyDeleteI'm so terribly late into the proceedings. Apologies for getting to your "Z" only now. To me, Zen is all around. I immerse myself in the positive vibes, go out an appreciate the wonders of nature.
Although I would never participate in the A to Z, congrats to you and all those who did. I hope that everybody did it in the spirit of an all different, all equal, sharing, caring blogging community.
Julia, I feel 'Zensational'! :)
In peace and goodwill,
Gary
Zen is definitely a good word to end your theme with! Sorry for getting here so late, but I'm slowly catching up with my post-vacation blogging. Anyway, love the pic of you in China. And congratulations for finishing the challenge! And btw, the clip of Dean screaming like a girl is from episode 6 Yellow fever, season 4. (:
ReplyDeleteHurray on finishing the A-Z challenge. Nice theme. I think this is something I will do sometime, think and write about what makes me happy. It would be great antidote to depression and a way to be grateful at the same time.
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