“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” ~ from “Walden” Henry David Thoreau
The past month has been full of stress and busyness. Between family illness and death, caring for my mom and packing up my house and moving to a different state within four days, I haven’t had any time to write in my work in progress.
Actually, I haven’t even had the time to journal, take photos, or just be. Now that I’m almost unpacked, I’m getting settled into my new house, my new town and figuring out what my new life will look like.
Now that I live in a small town, I’m learning new places to call my sanctuary. Places I can go to be alone with my thoughts, to write, journal, meditate or take pictures.
No matter where I may go in life, there’s one place I can always count on as my sanctuary. The public library. I can walk into any library anywhere and know I’ll get quiet, solitude and more than likely, free wi-fi. Plus, I get to inhale that delicious, if not slightly musty, “old book smell.” 🙂
I don’t have internet at my new house yet, so I’m writing today’s post at the library.
Sitting in the vinyl chair, clickity-clacking away on my laptop at the library for a hour is a great stress release for me. It brings me inner peace and makes me feel that all is right with the world.
Hopefully next week, I’ll start exploring other possible sanctuaries, like the park, the city lake and places I don’t even know exist yet.
Where do you find your sanctuary? I’d love to hear from you, leave me a comment and tell me about your sanctuary.
Amanda Bretz 
I enjoyed the Thoreau quote Amanda as well as your post today. I too love to get “lost’ in the woods or sit on a bench by the river. What is it about libraries and writers? Ever since I was a child, I could walk into a library and feel a sense of home AND excitement. Lots of changes happening for you and that’s not easy, especially with the loss of your Dad and moving. it’s good you’re taking care of yourself and finding “sanctuary” Hugs to you.
Thanks, Kate 🙂
I love the smell of books too. There’s something so comforting about it.
My spot right now is a $7 corduroy couch we rescued (read: raffled) from my husband’s office. In just a few days it’s comforted me like no other piece of furniture in our marriage has. I feel small in the deep and wide, and the overstuffed pillows don’t squash; they support. The TV is across the house, so the soundtrack is less jarring and more delightful; tiny scattered feet and shouts.
You made my day a little better :). Thanks for the prompt. Love your post – will be coming back!
p.s. found you on Twitter through “writingtip” :). My handle is @ang_merrick.
Angie, your house sounds like a little slice of heaven! Thanks for sharing :-).