Skip to main content

What a Wonderful World (An #AtoZChallenge Post): Q is for Quiet Places

 

A pastel image of a lake and the sun shining through the trees with the words, "Be STILL and know that I AM GOD" superimposed on the photo

Though the world can be busy, crowded, and noisy, there are still quiet places where it is easier to slow down, take a deep breath, and just be still. For example, though Naples, Italy was frenetically overwhelming to me even in the off-season, Lake Como stood in stark contrast as an achingly-beautiful, calm oasis. 

The Swiss Alps in the distance, and Italian villas on the shore of Lake Como

Whether traveling, or at home, seeking and finding quiet places is essential for mental health. I have found that peace comes most readily when I take the time to reach out to God, to rely on His strength, and to recognize His mercy and grace in my life. Seeing His beautiful creations is one way to feel that peace. 

A frozen waterfall in winter in Utah


The view from a cruise ship of the full moon shining down on the ocean

A large yellow water lily emerges from the water

What is your most recently visited quiet place? 

Come back tomorrow to see where in the world we'll visit next!

Comments

  1. messymimiApril 19, 2025 at 7:34 PM

    The good thing about these quiet places is we can find them anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KristiApril 20, 2025 at 6:42 PM

      I couldn't agree more! Even when life is chaotic, we can find inner peace and quiet. Of course, it isn't always easy, but it is possible.

      Delete
  2. Deborah WeberApril 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM

    Such pretty photos. I've never seen a yellow water lily before - it's lovely. And very serenity inducing.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Conversations are so much nicer when more than one person does the talking. :-) Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts; I'd love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

Ten Things of Thankful: 39 Years Edition

A political map of the world circa 1987. The Soviet Union takes up a sizable portion. A lot has happened in the last 39 years. The Berlin Wall came down. The Soviet Union collapsed. The Twin Towers fell. Technology has changed: landlines and phone booths are practically extinct, and random questions can be answered in seconds by asking Google, Siri, or Alexa. No longer do drivers keep the Thomas Guide in their cars; navigation systems will give turn-by-turn directions, and recalculate when the driver doesn't follow the directions. Some cars don't even need drivers. While many shoppers do their shopping in-person, some simply log into Amazon and have their item show up on their doorstep--sometimes within hours.  I've seen pieces of the Berlin Wall. I've traveled to places that used to be behind the Iron Curtain. I've been to Ground Zero. I no longer have a house phone, and have looked up the answers to countless questions using my cell phone. I do not miss the stress...
5 comments
Read more

Ten Things of Thankful: April Showers Edition

  A red peony bud prepares to open fully  After an incredibly dry winter, we had a bit of precipitation this past week, in the form of falling snow. We didn't have much, and it didn't really stick, but we'll take water however it wants to come. Fortunately, my peonies seem unaffected by the cold snap, and are ready to put on a show here soon. 1. I'm thankful for moisture. 2. I'm thankful the flowers are still going to bloom. I don't know how the colder temperatures will affect the fruit crops. The strawberries look like they are still planning to set fruit. We'll have to see what happens with the peach, apricot, pear, and apple. (The apricot only bears heavily every other year anyway, and I think this is an "off" year--though I could be wrong.) Strawberry plants in full bloom 3. I'm thankful for anticipated berries.  We continue to clear out and otherwise prepare John's parents' house for sale. I've been going through old photos and...
8 comments
Read more

Monday Mentions: Equate Crutches

Have you ever needed crutches? I hadn't, until a week ago.  I'm pretty sure I strained a muscle while running a half-marathon.  (That sounds kind of cool, doesn't it? I'm not actually that cool; the last time I strained a muscle it was from carrying too many shopping bags at once.) In any case, I found myself in need of some crutches. I sent my husband to the store to get some. Photo: A pair of crutches leans against a wall  Not that crutches are all that complex, but because I hadn't used any before, I wondered if I could figure out how to adjust them to fit me properly. I shouldn't have worried. John came home from Walmart with their generic store brand of crutches, complete with instructions. First, I needed to take out a long bolt that went through the hand grip. Then I needed to find my height range, push down two metal pieces, and slide the crutches until the little metal pieces came up in the hole near my height range. (Having two people for this...
4 comments
Read more