Motivational

Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity

Forestwood

How’s your 2022 shaping up? I haven’t seen its best face, so far. Not by a long shot.

beach sunrise
Scarborough, Australia at Sunrise

Even so, there’s always a sense of serenity to be found, in a Scarborough beach sunrise. Australia is blessed with a multitude of beaches. They’re a perfect place for contemplation – the rhythmic waves drowning out the city sounds: a soothing poultice for troubling thoughts that tumble chaotically in the vortex of life.

beach
Coolangatta Beach, Australia

Whether you’re seeking respite from boisterous children, noisy neighbours, barking dogs, a family crisis, unemployment, the ‘rona,’ or other sounds of city/life that might grate on one’ nerves, it’s the desire for peace and tranquillity that propels many of us to search for peace, physically and/or emotionally, somewhere we can feel calm and untroubled – a state called serenity.

Serenity – a welcome internal state brought about, in part, by external forces.

crimson leaves foliage japan along the Nakasendo way- an ancient walking trail that connects post towns between Tokyo to Kyoto
The Nakasendo Way – a place to find serenity and peace.

If a sandy beach is not your thing, taking a walk in nature is an excellent way to eliminate stress. Forest trails invite you to explore, to exercise, to breathe deeply and it is possible to find a sense of serenity to those who seek it.

Tsumago Japan Steps forest
A stairway near Tsumago, Japan

The Nakasendo Way is an ancient walking trail connecting post-towns between Tokyo and Kyoto. This section, located in the mountains in Hakone, Japan, is a place where even the most anxious person might find serenity.

Zen Gardens

Zen Gardens are synonymous with serenity. They are minimalist-designed gardens adorned with certain elements and a lot of open space, intended to help the viewer erase the stresses of everyday life by providing him with emptiness and openness.

A serene Zen garden in Toowoomba with raked gravel

DIY Zen Gardens

If you don’t have a zen garden nearby, you could make your own version with stones, versions, dollar store miniature tools and a few rocks and cactus – this was a school project which certainly attracted a lot of attention from the school students.

Friendly Friday Challenge Prompt – Searching for Serenity

For the Friendly Friday Challenge, show me in photographs, or using words, write about somewhere that imparts a feeling of serenity – a favourite walking trail; a comfortable chair; a place where you craft or work; or home with loved ones.

A poem, a story, a report, a photograph, all are welcome contributions to Friendly Friday.

How to Join Friendly Friday Blog Challenge

  • Make a post relating to the prompt, “Searching for serenity,” and include the tag Friendly Friday as well as a ping back to this post.
  • Furthermore, please be sure to leave a comment here along with your published URL, so I can find you and read your post. (ping backs can fail more often than you realise).
  • Note that links to a homepage will not issue a ping back, so please copy and past your post’s url.
  • If you wish, you can include the Friendly Friday Challenge logo in your post. Download it here.
  • You are encouraged to visit other Friendly Friday entries by following their links in the comments below. It’s inspirational and you will find some cool people.
  • Follow the host blogs to be informed of future Friendly Friday Challenges

[More Friendly Friday instructions]

This challenge runs for two weeks from today, after which Sandy will post a new Friendly Friday prompt at The Sandy Chronicles.

2022 Friendly Friday Prompt Release Dates

February 25 – Sandy – The Sandy Chronicles

March 11th – Sofia – Guest Host Photographias – EXCITING!!!

March 25th – Sarah – Travel with Me

Remember to follow the Friendly Friday Challenge Team Blogs above to get email notifications/updates in your reader.

We are what our name says: Friendly!

If you do decide to join our challenge: we look forward to meeting you!

Friendly Friday

Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

60 thoughts on “Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity”

  1. Pingback: Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity – nowathome

    1. Japan is that strange mix of megatropolis and then peaceful gardens where solitude and serenity can be found, Aletta. It is quite a contrast but I do like it. Have you been?

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      2. When the pandemic clears, you could have add it to your wish list I had never planned on it being anything more than a short stopover destination but it captivated me so much I returned twice more and would go again.

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      4. There really is a lot to see in Japan and its that interesting snd sometimes quirky mix of west and east. And everything so clean, neat and planned.

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  4. Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity.The picture is from my childhood Bibley parents gave me. On Thursday, February 10, 2022, Something to Ponder About wrote:

    > Forestwood posted: ” How’s your 2022 shaping up? I haven’t seen its best > face, so far. Not by a long shot. Scarborough, Australia at Sunrise Even > so, there’s always a sense of serenity to be found, in a Scarborough beach > sunrise. Australia is blessed with a multitude” >

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  5. My apartment was sprayed yesterday professionally and I am now challenged with the task of restocking my dresser and placing things in the closets temporary hoping to find a place to move.

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    1. Japan has a wonderful range of spots but the cover image is from the Brisbane Botanic Garden where they have a wonderful Japanese garden hidden amongst the natives.

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    1. Thanks so much, Janis, only the beaches, the Toowoomba zen garden and the featured image are from Australia. I am a big fan of wooden paths as well as beaches, and I always appreciate the opportunity to do so, knowing that many in the world can’t.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Pingback: Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity – Cee's Photo Challenges
  13. Pingback: Nothing can bring you peace but yourself-Ralph Waldo Emerson – Philosophy Through Photography

    1. I am so pleased that you liked my choice of prompt this week, PtP. I think all of us would like our inner mind to be at peace. I am interested to see how you have interpreted this via photos.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Pingback: Friendly Friday Challenge – Searching for Serenity – photographias

    1. I had the same feeling of wanting to return to Japan, as I was formulating this post, Sofia. It is a very special country. Thanks for joining in. I am keen to check out your entry.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. The Zen garden in Toowoomba calls to me. So soothing.

    [When I read the title of this post my mind went to the TV series Firefly which was about a crew of ragtag space adventurers who travelled in a ship called Serenity. Not your point, of course, but there you have it!]

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    1. The Toowoomba garden was fabulous, designed by a master Japanese Zen Garden Architect, and will take 30 years to completely mature.
      I am not familiar with the series Firefly, but I do think Serenity is a cool name for a spaceship!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Pingback: Sunset afterglow | Graham's Island

      1. True. It is more inside. Though some “theres” help. We just bought a “country” house an hour away from Mexico. Warmer, with a small pool for the grandkids. Very quiet. Peace indeed.

        Liked by 1 person

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  28. I so agree about Japan (and Japanese gardens anywhere) being a great source of serene spaces. The Japanese seem to find room for a peaceful oasis in the smallest spots 🙂

    You’ve picked a perfect theme for me as I’m just back from a two week trip escaping the chill of London and busy city life among the greenness of Costa Rica. I thought I’d share the serene views we enjoyed from our various hotels there: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-enjoying-serene-views-in-costa-rica/

    Of course being me I didn’t just sit and look at the views, so watch this space for more posts about this beautiful country!

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  29. Pingback: LAPC #187: Water Fun in Maui – Marsha Ingrao – Always Write

    1. I agree that blogging can be a fantastic way to find some serenity in your life, Marsha. Typing out those kinds of thoughts in an entertaininng and logically presented way is a great and productive use of one’s times.

      Liked by 1 person

  31. I love the subject here, Amanda! I’m going to keep it for future reference. On the road right now to retrieve my personal belongings and staying with a friend. The room is serene and I’m absorbing it’s essence. I’ve always thought that serenity was a state of mind you could chose. Even when chaos is all around, you can take your focus off and find that spot in your mind to bring you back.Of course, idyllic surroundings are very helpful, though we can’t always get to them. You have given me a great deal of food for thought.

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    1. Lovely to hear Marlene that you could find some food for thought in my challenge post. You know I am not good at finding serenity when things are chaotic. It is very difficult for me to choose that as a state of mind unless I practise some meditation. Yet the paradox is that serenity is most needed in those chaotic times.
      When things are more stable, I can visit that serene place in my mind very easily. Enjoy your mini holiday and visiting your friend.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. I loved how you spoke of the beach, “a soothing poultice for troubling thoughts that tumble chaotically in the vortex of life.” Beautiful words and lovely pictures.

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    1. Thank you so much for that kind comment. It does indeed feel like that and in that I am blessed that a beach is easily accessible to me. Although I am not in walking distance to my favourite beach, it is just just a short drive.

      Liked by 1 person

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