I've been asking myself, "What do I really want?"

More stuff? No.

Excitement, xtreme sports? No.

Recognition, power, wealth? No.

What I truly crave is serenity, harmony, balance. When my life is out of balance; when there is strife and discord; when there is too much of one thing, not enough of the other; I am troubled and sad.

Serenity doesn't mean loneliness. Or constant peace and quiet. Or infinite solitude. It means an inner quietness of mind and emotion, an acceptance and joy in life.

Harmony means interacting with my friends and neighbors in a loving, gentle, community-building way, reaching a level of trust and understanding among us. Resolving discord in a respectful, honest way.

To be in balance is to be centered, to be present to life and accepting of its vagaries in the way animals are. What I mean is that I look to animals as a way of seeing the contrast between the crazy way humans have learned to live, struggle, fight, and the natural way which accepts life and all its opportunities and failures.

This is what I crave, with all my heart and mind and body. Let my spirit soar in joy; let my mind reflect in peace; let my body exist in harmony. I am reminded of the Buddhist prayer:

May I be at peace.
May my heart remain open.
May I awaken to the light of my own nature.
May I be healed.
May I be a source of healing for all beings.