PEACE: Inhale, exhale. Our spirits need a breather

BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

We breathe. 

In and out, without thinking, our lungs rise and fall — an effortless rhythm gifted to us so we may live, move, and see another day. Yet what we choose to focus on within those days either drains our energy or restores our balance. 

Life demands much from us. Our minds are constantly processing — absorbing information, releasing it, storing it, sorting it. This nonstop flow can be exhausting, especially when the values we form arise unconsciously, without the benefit of reflection or intention. Before we know it, our inner compass can be shaped by noise rather than truth. 

But when everything else is stripped away, what remains is our soul. And just as a plant needs water, our souls require nourishment. The most powerful nourishment comes from the gifts God has placed within reach — gifts that cost us nothing. 

Gratitude is one of them. It is the pathway that fortifies the soul, opens the heart, and softens the rough edges of life. 

A long walk in nature. The changing seasons. A cool breeze brushing your face. 

These small, sacred moments are reminders of your connection to something greater. Even the birds that glide above, calling for your attention under a sky stretching brilliantly overhead, can replenish something deep within you — something you didn’t realize was running low. 

The soul is like velvet: soft, impressionable, and forever holding the shape of what touches it. That is why it’s essential to cling to what is good, what is uplifting, what brings clarity and peace. Negativity only distracts, pulling you away from the life you are meant to live. 

Lead your days with intention. Feed your soul with gratitude, beauty, compassion, and rest. Do this, and peace will meet you where you are — wrapping you in its quiet strength, guiding you forward with grace.