Journaling Prompt: A Peaceful Peace

Image courtesy of writer’s photo collection.

Journaling Prompt: What place makes you feel most peaceful? Describe that place using all five senses. (Prompt courtesy of PsychCentral article “Ready, Set, Journal! 64 Journaling Prompts for Self-Discovery”)

Traveling to the beach at Ocean City, NJ for the past year and a half during the summer and fall has made me feel the most peaceful during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would wake up as early as possible before 5 am so I can arrive to watch the sunrise. It was so empowering to witness the sun ascend above the horizon like a gigantic, red/orange ball illuminating the sky. I felt connected to both nature and spirit walking barefoot in the sand, feeling the warmth of sunrays on my skin, smelling the tranquil scent of salt water, and listening to the ocean waves splash against the shore and seagulls chirping as they flew above the land. Sometimes I’d reminisce about summer vacations spent with my family in Wildwood and how much I enjoyed playing with relatives, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, or eating snacks like ice cream sandwiches or French fries.