SILENCE HELPS ME FOCUS

Natural beauty and silence help me focus, and feel at peace when the noises of this world are all too present.  The news can be alarming, and rarely what I yearn to hear.  My cat whining when I go to this computer is annoying, for she wants attention when I want to concentrate; our timing is off.
     We've recently had terrible smoke from nearby fires, and it's truly disconcerting to not see the trees, the sky, the sun, the mountains.  Watching everyone venture out with masks on, having my eyes blur and get irritated, not being able to enjoy even the morning before the heat--all take a toll on my body and my psyche.  I love being able to see people's faces, the path or road around me, the sunshine on a warm day.  A prayer for some rain without the lightning fires, a prayer for the healing of this planet, and the collaborative efforts this will take.  In the silence, we can access our imaginations, and envision a brighter world where we care for one another,  respect our differences, and celebrate life's simple joys.