The Peaceful Porch Swing

The greatest gift I have ever received is a hand-built, custom porch swing. My partner made it for me as a birthday gift almost a year ago, after I had told him how much I wanted one to take naps on.  I love taking naps outside. I feel there is nothing better than be surrounded by all of natures sounds as you rest. Truly taking in the peace and relaxation Earth's sounds have to offer us.  With the mind at rest, you can submerge yourself with the Earth without even realizing it as you drift off into a blissful sleep.  I have found such comfort and peace in my porch swing.  It has become my own little oasis.

I find myself on my porch swing quite often but never just to sit and waste time on a cell phone or scrolling through social media. It is always with an intention of letting nature surround me and coming into full relaxation. It gives me a sense of peace and relief that I cannot find anywhere else. My porch swing is my little bubble of peace and protection; where thoughts can run wild, where my body can stretch out to release itself, where I can curl up and hold my weenie girl and feel her warmth against my chest as we drift off to rest.  The porch swing is my time. My time to release anxious thoughts and worries. Release tension and anger. Release tears and heart ache. My porch swing has seen it all in just the span of a year and I am baffled at the way she draws me in every time. Like a friend wanting a deep, long hug. Ready to embrace you every time with anything you bring to it. She is always there to comfort me. Relaxing me. Making me forget about the nuances of life and just enjoy the present around me.

I often eat breakfast on my porch swing, a homemade yogurt parfait, to start my day in a silent observance, with my dogs as they rest or play with toys. I observe my surroundings. I observe the people walking to work or exercising on the greenway. I observe the weather and how it feels, allowing all of my senses to open up and enjoy the surroundings. This morning, I did the same thing but enjoyed a deeper sense of being today. After I finished my parfait, I felt the need to just.....rest. To lay my head down and embrace the present around me. To be mindless but mindful.

I can feel a storm approaching this morning. It was just around the corner. I could feel the cool gentle breeze and the very faint smell of rain in the air. My ideal weather, coming my way. I knew I needed this rest and the Earth wanted me to enjoy and embrace the storm it had in mind today. I adjusted my pillow with my head facing the greenway just as my weenie girl scratched at the bottom of the swing to come join me. She always knows when it's porch swing snuggle time. I think she too understands and enjoys the bliss of the porch swing. I curl up into a ball, wrap my arm around weenie and we both let out a big sigh of breath to release all that no longer serves us. I feel her relax, just as I do, as we settle into our resting place.

As I am entering a half-present, mindful state of rest, I begin to hear light rain coming down from the clouds. So gently hitting the Earth and the roof of my home. I hear gentle rolls of thunder in the distance. A deep, heavy sound that reminds me of the deeper tones of a sound bath. A sound that is coming towards you but, oh so gently, smoothly and without harm. Just coming to linger over you for a change of scenery. To do no harm. It was a very welcomed feeling to me. I looked forward to its arrival.

I drift off to a mindful rest, both present and aware of my surroundings but also relaxed and unfazed. A true release. I can feel my body relax. My mind relax and let go. Reaching true mind and body relaxation. Something I don't experience very often, besides on my porch swing. I acknowledge the rain beginning to pick up, coming down harder and harder. Like a serene song reaching the chorus. The thunders rolls in closer, the cracks much louder. It feels as if it is just diagonally above my head, looking out for me like an older brother. Keeping me safe in my space of rest while also soothing me and keeping me at ease. I stretch out my body full length for a good, deep, soulful body stretch and then re-embrace weenie in a deep hug, clutching her to my chest, as I feel her little body shaking from either cold or slight sacredness of the storm arriving. I clutch her to remind her she is safe and that I will always protect her. She cuddles up to me as close as possible, relaxes and drifts back to sleep.

I lift my head to view the storm that has arrived. With all of the sounds a storm brings, I find it incredible that they are so peaceful and serene. To me, a storm is like washing away the stress, anxiety, sadness, anger and other unwanted feelings that were brought on since the last storm came through. Funny how those emotions pile up so quickly. But the storm serves as cleansing. The rain washes away the pent up emotions and anxieties. The thunder cracks and rolls over like the Lord guiding you into a new body, mind and being. Like your father telling you sternly to release the emotions and that you'll be okay once you do. Just trust him. In releasing all of the tension and emotions my body and mind hold onto, I realize the true beauty of a storm and why it is my favorite type of weather. It always serves as a new starting point. A chance to release, let go and move forward from all that you're holding onto. A clean slate.

I watch the storm from my porch swing this morning and feel complete relief mentally, physically and emotionally. The peace I gained is unparalleled. I am grateful for my porch swing and the man who made it. As I get up to move inside my home for the morning, I face the Earth in Mountain Pose taking three deep breaths and thanking the Earth for this beautiful storm it has given me.