This is one of my favorite shirts. when our world shifted into pandemic mode two years ago, this T-Shirt's message resonated in a deeper way. I remember sitting on my friend’s rooftop patio one morning, taking time to be still and reflect. I was wearing my Peace, Love and Soul Shirt. My assignment was to share a short video (It’s included at the end of this blog) on what kept me grounded during the past year and a half. The answer was on my shirt: Protecting My Peace, Spending Time with Who I Love and Doing What Feeds My Soul. These three principles continue to ground me and I am grateful.

·        Protecting my Peace
·        Spending time with People I love
·        Nurturing my Soul

“You keep pairing me with quiet, Peace said. “but my true companion is the mighty clamor of chains being ripped clean from the wall.” Lori Hetteren

Protecting my peace means exactly that. Peace is so precious that it will call you to take active steps to protect it. Peace will call you to set boundaries. Peace will call you to say yes and call you to say no. Protecting your peace will cause you to unplug, log off and shut down. Peace will call you to resist grind culture and rest. Peace is the catalyst to taking actions that will bring us closer to actual peace.

Peace is not passive. One of my favorite quotes is “You keep pairing me with quiet, Peace said. “but my true companion is the mighty clamor of chains being ripped clean from the wall.” Lori Hetteren

I must protect my peace. If the price for something and or someone is my peace, then it is just too expensive. I am not willing to pay that price anymore.

Spending time with people that I love is one of the foundations of my life. Anyone who truly knows me knows how important community and relationships are to me. One of the biggest discoveries was that physical touch is one of my primary love languages. This season shifted the trajectory and made us creative and intentional with our relationships and treasuring those we love. This season has also made me more intentional about letting people know how I feel and care about them. It takes some vulnerability at times, but the risk is worth the reward.

“The pandemic has reminded us that life is more than what we do. It is about whom we spend our lives with. We cannot hug a career or laugh with a promotion. We are made for friendship. love and community.” Esau McCauley

Nurturing my soul means doing things that give love and light to my spirit. In the word of Katie Cannon, it is dong the work that my soul must have. Writing is one of those works for me. It means taking the time to walk in the gifts that we’re given.

This past weekend I was able to incorporate all of these principles in one night. I didn’t want to deal with traffic (If you live in LA.. you already know) so I decided to protect my peace and take an Uber. I spent time and reconnected with a beloved friend I haven’t seen for a while. The night was full of poetry, music, food, friendship, books and good vibes. These are all the things that nurture my soul.

That night I was reminded to spend the rest of my life here on earth to remember and make these three principles a part of my life. I invite you to do the same. Will you journey with me as I go deeper into each of these principles? The pandemic just reminded me that these three things …. peace, love and soul need to be a part of our lives in every season.

I am writing this on a peaceful Sunday afternoon at my parents’ kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea and listening to my mother as she’s cooking in the kitchen. This piece was created and incoprates protecting my peace, spending time with people I love and nurturing my soul. I don’t always get it right, but I will nurture the moments when I do.

Sending you Peace, Love and Soul,

Sheila P Spencer

Dec 30, 2024

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These Three Things .., Peace, Love & Soul

· Protecting my Peace

· Spending time with People I love

· Nurturing my Soul

Peace is not passive. One of my favorite quotes is “You keep pairing me with quiet, Peace said. “but my true companion is the mighty clamor of chains being ripped clean from the wall.” Lori Hetteren

I must protect my peace. If the price for something and or someone is my peace, then it is just too expensive. I am not willing to pay that price anymore.

“The pandemic has reminded us that life is more than what we do. It is about whom we spend our lives with. We cannot hug a career or laugh with a promotion. We are made for friendship. love and community.” Esau McCauley

Nurturing my soul means doing things that give love and light to my spirit. In the word of Katie Cannon, it is dong the work that my soul must have. Writing is one of those works for me. It means taking the time to walk in the gifts that we’re given.

Sending you Peace, Love and Soul,

Sheila P Spencer

Each day is its own journey ….

“ … may we, too, speak affirmations that align us with our purpose and ignite the fire within us to make meaningful contributions to the world.”

My relationship with hope is still in tact. Despite the occasional “it’s complicated,” we remain connected. It’s the audacity of hope that keeps us going.

“Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution. Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, in the midst and allow you to just be …. similar to the process of brewing tea, just waiting”

“Why does someone always have to be the strong friend? The label can feel heavy if it’s the only crown we’re allowed to wear. What if the role of the strong friend shifted within the group and became something we all shared?”

· Protecting my Peace

· Spending time with People I love

· Nurturing my Soul

Peace is not passive. One of my favorite quotes is “You keep pairing me with quiet, Peace said. “but my true companion is the mighty clamor of chains being ripped clean from the wall.” Lori Hetteren

I must protect my peace. If the price for something and or someone is my peace, then it is just too expensive. I am not willing to pay that price anymore.

“The pandemic has reminded us that life is more than what we do. It is about whom we spend our lives with. We cannot hug a career or laugh with a promotion. We are made for friendship. love and community.” Esau McCauley

Nurturing my soul means doing things that give love and light to my spirit. In the word of Katie Cannon, it is dong the work that my soul must have. Writing is one of those works for me. It means taking the time to walk in the gifts that we’re given.

Sending you Peace, Love and Soul,

Sheila P Spencer

Each day is its own journey ….

“ … may we, too, speak affirmations that align us with our purpose and ignite the fire within us to make meaningful contributions to the world.”

My relationship with hope is still in tact. Despite the occasional “it’s complicated,” we remain connected. It’s the audacity of hope that keeps us going.

“Gratitude is not always about waiting for resolution. Sometimes, gratitude is found in the people and the moments that hold space for you, in the midst and allow you to just be …. similar to the process of brewing tea, just waiting”

“Why does someone always have to be the strong friend? The label can feel heavy if it’s the only crown we’re allowed to wear. What if the role of the strong friend shifted within the group and became something we all shared?”

Sheila Spencer