Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
It seems the news – local, national, and international – are pretty bleak nowadays. All fury and sound, grandstanding, anger, violence, power-grabbing, and whatnot. And judging from good old Shakespeare, it might have as well been like that since the beginning of time.
So, what’s one to do with such a world?
When the fury and sound become overwhelming, I like to withdraw to a calm and peaceful place to restore my balance. One of those places is Shipka, a small village near my hometown at the foot of the mountains. With steep cobbled streets, a mix of new and old-fashioned houses, neatly tended gardens, a beautiful Memorial Church at the top, and breathtaking vista towards the valley, I have always felt at peace there.
For years, I believed those calm places to be unique to the Bulgarian mountains. Now, older and wiser, I have found my special places everywhere I have traveled – from the obvious mountain peaks and ocean beaches to the unexpected suburban street of a highly developed area. I guess, peace is everywhere if you have eyes for it, and nowhere if you choose not to see.
Tatiana