#9 on my Top Ten List of things to do when the world is at war is - Soothe Anxiety.

I have always been an anxious person - less so these days - but boy oh boy was I an anxious kiddo.

I always thought someone was breaking into our home, crawling up the outside of the house to break into my room (what?), always picturing the worst-case scenario and narcissistically believing that since I pictured it, that meant it would happen!

I pity my poor parents.

It is hard not be anxious about our world these days. We have been through a global pandemic, a racial reckoning of epic proportions, political upheaval that continues, a series of wars, a shaking of so many foundations.

And now we face a renewal of nuclear weapon "saber rattling" threats.

Unsettling to put it mildly.

What to do with the kind of anxiety these circumstances create?

I wish, as a child, someone would have taught me some ways to soothe myself.

Stopping, even briefly, to put my feet on the ground, to feel the solid earth under them. To breathe, in slowly and out even more slowly. To look around and notice what is all around me. To feel the wind on my face, to smell the sweet perfume of spring, to taste the hot coffee or ice cold water I am drinking. To practice being right where I am. To ground myself.

Or maybe to go for a walk without music or noise or chatter. To walk in nature and remember that the trees don't worry, and yet they grow. The birds don't fret, and yet they fly. To allow nature to soothe my soul.

Or perhaps to open a Bible to the ancient Psalms and to let words wash over me:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want ..."

or

"I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My only help comes from God, the one who created heaven and earth, who made each crevice, who smoothed each stone. God will not allow your foot to stumble; the One who watches over you will not drowse off to sleep."

Or put on the most beautiful, peaceful music I have ever heard. Let it be the soundtrack of my day.

What is it that soothes your anxiety?

When the world is at war, there is much you can do, but once you've done those things, find ways to soothe your anxiety.

Be at peace.

Be at peace.

Be at peace.