Pockets of Peace
If we could see our memories in advance, would we do anything different?
- From a movie I saw on the plane.
Happy Tuesday,
The suitcases are unpacked, and now the month of May is a beautiful memory that I am slowly but surely unpacking as well. As I do this unpacking, I am relishing in the celebration of a month full of so much love and adventure.
First of all, you will notice in this particular letter that the Victory Letter is happening on a Tuesday morning versus Monday. And yes, after 25 years of sending it out on Monday I have decided that Tuesday is a good time as well to check in with you and share some inspiration to carry you through your week. Especially with Monday already in the rear view mirror.
After all, that has been the purpose and function of this letter for all these years.
The month of May not only gave me some time to catch my breath, but indeed gave me the gift of a beautiful wedding in San Francisco, time with my baby girl Bailey, and time to hang out with my besties for a few days afterwards.
It also brought into my life a new life! The birth of my grand niece Caroline Marie. Such a precious gift to not only see my niece Katie and her husband David become parents, but to see my sister Robi and brother-in-law Billy become grandparents for the first time!
And then of course there was the trip of a lifetime to France! So much to share with you about my journeys including a video I will have coming your way soon sharing the beautiful and amazing sights we saw.
One thing I was not expecting, as I had imagined for all these years of gazing at the Eiffel Tower for the first time was the massive amount of people that also were there to see this marvel of human creation. It honestly took me by surprise and not in a good way as I am not a big fan of crowds.
But it was in dealing with the crowds that I found an unexpected place inside my head and heart as I climbed down the stairs of the tower. I found myself with a moment when no one was around me. The thought came to me with a smile about appreciating pockets of peace whenever they come our way.
We can complain about what we don’t like, however, it is the pockets of peace within our minds that give us our greatest opportunity to take a deep breath.
And with the 80th Anniversary of D-Day happening this Thursday June 6th, I thought I would share with you today some moments through pictures of the time we spent on the beaches of Normandy, including Omaha, Utah, Gold, Juno and Sword. Truly a touching and insightful part of our trip that was a huge reminder more than I have ever had in my life of the cost of our freedom.
It had me thinking about my dad who would have been 100 this Friday June 7, and the service he gave to this country along with his four older brothers. My dad was only 18 when he enlisted, serving and being wounded in Germany receiving the purple heart for his service.
As we made our bicycled our way through the sites and memorials of these beaches, the pockets of peace so many service men and women gave to each of us through their courages acts of protecting freedom stuck with me even more.
A church at the memorial near Omaha Beach
Honoring of Soldiers from around the Globe
The fallen Soldiers 😢
A chilling tribute to the soldiers that arrived on Omaha Beach and the waves they pushed through on.
A heart naturally shaped by water on Omaha beach
While everything touched my heart, during our visit to Normandy this picture I caught on Omaha beach with a heart made by water in the sand touched me deeply.
And finally today, my friend I will share with you that having arrived home to my beloved garden I put up a video on You Tube this morning about the many pockets of peace I find here every single day. More to come on France in the weeks ahead.
I encourage you to find your pockets of peace as you move through your life. Stopping to savor the moments when they happen with a deep breath, grace and gratitude.
Until next Tuesday…
Onward We Grow!
Cheri
Cheri Ruskus
Creator and Growth Mentor
