So you're looking for Tranquility?

I suspect you’ve landed on this page in search of it. And, undoubtedly, are reading this because you want to know what the website offers and why this might be your path to finding it.

Often in my posts there will be links to specific answers to given questions. Finding Tranquility, on the other hand, is a far more challenging pursuit without specific answer. On this venue, we will look for tranquility together with expectation that all the post, as a whole, will give us a sense of the answer for each of us. 

At the age of 27, I know few things. Few…and not many of those are the ‘big stuff’.  Most notably, I don’t even know myself. In fact, what eludes me the most is who I am, why I exist, what is my purpose. Still working on that.

But I do, in general, know people.  I always have. I watch their behaviors, study their motivations, and examine the results.  And I know that in today’s America and the rest of the world, we have more than a few problems. People are divided religiously, politically, emotionally, and physically…more than divided, we seem to be broken. 

Throughout my life, there are moments I believe I know the answer to all problems. [Insert my rant about the need for people over the age of 60 or so to pass a driving test every few years.] Those moments come frequently and never last for long. However, the one thing I am 100% certain I do know is that it is impossible for everyone to agree on everything. It’s an undeniable truth old as time, so why have we not learned to deal with it?  

"Why can’t we all just get along?"

"What would bring us together?"

"What drives human behavior toward conflict?"

What if we first explored what it is that brings people together? The immediate answer to the latter seems to be, unfortunately, a common enemy…once again, conflict.  I am not willing to accept that constant threat is the best way to achieve cooperation and peace. I believe common purpose works, too.

One of my most notable traits is, I ponder quite often. Consequently, I believe I may know the answer to all three questions.

"Why can’t we all just get along?"

"What would bring us together?"

"What drives human behavior toward conflict?"

I believe the answer is... Tranquility and/or the absence thereof.  Let me explain.

I think one thing almost everyone has in common is the search for Tranquility. But what is Tranquility? A quick Google search defines tranquility as: 

"The quality or state of being tranquil."

Really Google?! Using the word itself to define the word? That’s as helpful as a parent saying “Because I said so” when a kid is genuinely wondering why he is told he cannot do something.

Kid: “Why can’t I walk down the street anymore?”

Parent: “Because I said so.”

Kid: *Instant temper tantrum

To those who say that telling your kid ‘because I said so’ is bad parenting and you should never do it… I say, Come on, is there really NO scenario when that is the better response?

Let’s try out one alternative.

Kid: “Why can’t I walk down the street anymore?”

Parent: “Because our neighbor was found guilty for exploiting child pornography.”

Kid: … “What’s pornography?”     

[Getting way off topic here, but it is relevant in a very important way. I promise. Just stay with me.]

Clearly here telling the truth wasn't the best course of action.  Let's try one more alternative.

Kid: “Why can’t I walk down the street anymore?”

Parent: “A man-eating lion escaped the zoo and is on the prowl in our neighborhood.”

Kid: *Crying. Screaming. Holding breath. Refusing to leave his room.

Parent: “Just kidding. There is no such thing as a man-eating lion in our neighborhood. I made that up. “

Kid: “What about Santa Claus? Did you make that up?” 

You can see where this is going. Do we need to start the debate that you should never lie to your child? Ugh! Let’s not go there. 

The point to be made here is that statements like "Never say because I said so" or "Never lie to your child or to anyone" are problematic because they are absolutes.  Speaking in absolutes leaves no room for discussion, and if there is no room for discussion, there is no room for other ideas or solutions. 

So, to the best of my ability, I try not to speak in absolutes.  However, I admit I’ve done it and I’ll do it again, but I want to be clear that I understand it is not the best practice.

With that said, it occurs to me that the search for Tranquility is the best way to bring the world together. [And, yes, I can hear you now saying, ‘Ummm, excuse me. That’s an absolute. Weren’t we just talking about NOT speaking in absolutes?’] 

Allow me to clarify.  I’m not the world’s problem-solver. I may be, in fact I probably am…wrong. Yet, in my incredibly limited opinion, it is the best thing that comes to my mind. I genuinely think the search for tranquility can bring people together. I am open to the many and better ideas out there.  But this is MY best idea.  I want to help others with their search for tranquility.  So…here we are, back to the original discussion.  What IS tranquility? How do we define tranquility? [See? I told you to just stay with me.]

I presume most of you know the definition. Some may not. Since this exercise is to search for tranquility and since we are hoping to find common ground to help us eliminate barriers that divide us and since we do not wish to degrade or patronize others…Let’s start with the basic base word definition. [Consider it a review for those with more advanced reading levels than the rest of us.]

According to Merriam-Webster tranquil means:

“Free from agitation of mind or spirit. Free from disturbance or turmoil. Unvarying in aspect."

Synonyms include - calm, steady, and stable.” 

We have a definition, but what does it mean? Let’s break it down. “Free from.” That’s fairly straight forward. The absence of something, being without something, I think we understand that. So then what causes agitation, disturbance, or turmoil?  All we need do is a touch of internet research or, maybe, simply turn on the news to be bombarded with turmoil, disturbance, agitation, deceit, the-opposite-of-tranquility in the world. 

Are you thinking now of what stresses you and provokes you without invitation?  May I call this onslaught the modern version of the “Root of All Evil”? Relentless and targeted information 24/7.  If not the Root, it is certainly the Soil in which the seed was planted. 

But what causes these things for YOU?  How do YOU get rid of them?  How do YOU find Tranquility?

Well, it depends. Afterall, the cause of agitation, disturbance, or turmoil changes from person to person and even over time for a single individual. Each of us is entitled to our own vision and/or experience which bring us tranquility. [Note: Quite possibly the ONLY time I champion the notion of entitlement.]

Tranquility will have different descriptions, none of which can be argued because it is a completely personal thing, place, state-of-mind, or emotion. [*Absolute. There, I’ve done it again]. But examples never hurt, so I’ll do my best to explain mine.

Tranquility for me comes in small doses; it is a moment in which thoughts disappear. The moment of tranquility is preceded by a glimpse of something beautiful. A sunset, a pyramid, a canyon, really anything I personally find beautiful and wonderous. This view is followed by pondering about the efforts it took humans, animals, or nature to create the sight I see.

A look at the pyramids of Giza, followed deep thoughts of how it was constructed. 

Then. My mind becomes a void. I can only feel. I feel disconnected from the world. No hustle or bustle. No struggles or scuffles. An overwhelming appreciation for events that took place to create that moment for me floods my body. And I feel at peace. 

And, although this page is mainly about these moments I’ve experienced during my travels, I’ve experienced Tranquility as close as my own home. Feeling Tranquility gives me purpose. It motivates me to create things and situations so others can have their own Tranquil experience.

So, do I think tranquility will solve the world’s problems? 

No. 

Do I think we should quit our jobs, drop everything and retreat to a tranquil state of existence?  

No. 

After all, some things have to get done and, by most measures, the world is better than it was in the past, in part because of how our divisions are solved or compromised. Our life expectancy is higher than ever before, our quality of life is better than ever before, and a portion of this generation is focused on identifying and solving environmental issues created, in part, by progress. We understand, no matter how small the change, over time it makes a difference.  

[Side note:  This is not intended as a debate regarding how much or how little impact we are making on the environment…only acknowledgement that there is current work to improve.] 

So, there is purpose for the activities, studies, building, and advancements that preoccupy our lives. Hard to imagine existence without dealing with immediate need. However, there must be balance.

My gut-feeling is that, through all the hustle and bustle and struggles and scuffles, we long for tranquility. We crave it. But WHERE is it? I believe it is EVERYWHERE. We simply need a map and the determination to find it. 

What I am presenting is a resource where I can share my tranquil experiences. Over time, I hope this resource allows others to share their own experiences. Creating a place where people can venture to find their own version of tranquility.

This resource will not offer a single concept that will accommodate everyone. Rather, it will become a format where a wide variety of tranquil concepts will flourish. To reiterate, I am convinced it is unlikely everyone will agree about what constitutes tranquility. The good news is that agreement is not mandatory. It is not even anticipated.

The idea is to share an adventure or experience that created a tranquil environment for you or a sense of tranquility for you, your family, or community. The premise of sharing this resource is acceptance that if you do not find a path to tranquility here…You will Find Another Resource.

Everything on this venue is purely an expression of how, where, when I or another person has found the break from stress-saturation so needed in their lives. No doubt, a moment of tranquility or even a dedication to seeking it out will fall short of solving the problems we all face. Maybe though, it might improve the way we make our way through them.

That is my goal. That is what I hope this resource becomes:

A place where glimpses of tranquility are shared…  A place you look forward to browsing for a little TLC (Tranquility, Lightheartedness, & Comfort)…  So that you may find it for yourself.