A War for Peace

In December of 2024 I got a tattoo of the Arabic word " Salaam" which means " peace". 2025 would be a whirlwind, tumultuous roller coaster ride that challenged and redefined the meaning and magnitude of that word in my life. It's easy to feel peaceful when my life is coasting along predictably and I can anticipate what my daily routine will consist of. 2025 made me reconsider how I identify peace when I'm in the midst of conflict, tension, and challenging situations. My word for 2025 was " boundaries". This was a year where many of my boundaries that I've created for my mental health and stability were challenged by the people closest to me. I had people who are cherished loved ones try to manipulate what they could get away with when it comes to interacting with me, and this made 2025 full of contentious moments. I've had to go to war for my peace. I've had to clarify what peace looks and feels like for me, and not allow that peace to be interrupted by anyone, no matter how endearing the relationship. There was a fury of setting boundaries and protecting those boundaries against backlash that led to many moments in 2025 feeling somewhat antagonistic. I had to learn that peace isn't found in fixing everything around you. It's found in refusing to be disturbed by it. I've had to cultivate and maintain my peace through moments of conflict and discord in 2025. I'm a yogini with a healthy yoga practice that I've been engaged with for years. When things are going well in my life, I go to the yoga mat. When I want things to improve in my life, I go to the yoga mat. In yoga we strive to take the calm, cool, and collected person we are during our practice into the person we become when we interact with the everyday World. After one of my yoga and meditation sessions, the quote from the class was " To be affected by the inconveniences of the world is perhaps human, to be present and not impacted by the inconveniences of the world is yoga".  I've had to integrate that quote in my life in many ways this year. Peace is not going into the woods in an avoidant state of mind when it comes to accepting our reality. Peace is who we become when we are being put to the fires of life and are fighting through obstacles and tribulations. Peace is going toe to toe with the challenges the Universe puts in our life, and deciding to not allow it to affect the people we are and the people we are becoming. Peace is looking adversity in the eye and telling it that has no power.  Peace is the cultivation of being in a good mood, and staying in a good mood when circumstances conspire against us. 2025 was a lesson in peace. It was a battle for my mental sanity and stability, but I'm very happy about the new spiritual muscles I've developed. I know how to be in the midst of the inevitable trials and tribulations life puts in our path, and still choose joy. I know how to look the dragon of opposition and animosity in the face and still choose happiness. I know how to be in the midst of conflict and discord and still choose my own well being and boundaries while staying within the parameters of what peace looks like. ASE for a 2026 full of more love. ASE for a 2026 full of more joy.  And above all things, ASE for a 2026 full of more peace, even when we have to go to war to protect that peace! All my love mermaids! Xoxo