Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time.
Herman Hesse
A few years ago, I placed a comfortable chair and reading lamp beside a window in our bedroom. The window catches the morning sun and looks out onto a large flowering tree that changes with the seasons. Nearby sits an Alexa device for music, and a small coaster waits for a cup of coffee or a glass of sparkling water. On the wall hang two photographs by a photographer whose work I admire. None of these things are particularly remarkable on their own, but together they have created one of my favorite places in our home.
Most mornings begin there. I settle into the chair with my coffee and read emails and text messages while enjoying the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the window. The tree outside provides a constantly changing view. In spring, it bursts into bloom. In summer, its leaves dance in the breeze. Even on gray days, it offers a connection to the world beyond the glass.
In the afternoons, I often return with a book or my journal. Sometimes I listen to music and simply sit quietly, allowing my thoughts to wander. There is something restorative about having a place where nothing is required of me. No errands need to be run, no tasks completed, no deadlines met. It is a small refuge from the busyness of everyday life.
Occasionally, when my husband is watching a television program that doesn’t interest me, I retreat to my corner. Rather than viewing it as an escape, I think of it as a gentle retreat—a place where I can read, write, reflect, or simply be still for a while.
Over time, this little corner has become much more than a chair by a window. It has become my special place, a sanctuary of sorts. We often think we need grand destinations to find peace, yet sometimes all it takes is a comfortable chair, a patch of sunshine, a view of a flowering tree, and a few quiet moments carved out of the day. In a world that often encourages us to do more, my little corner reminds me of the value of simply being.
I’ve noticed that even though I no longer work full-time, my days are rarely empty. There are always things to do, places to be, and people with whom I want to stay connected. Emails and text messages seem to multiply as quickly as I delete them. I enjoy an active life, keeping in touch with friends, volunteering, writing, and pursuing the many interests that enrich my days.
Yet, as much as I enjoy being engaged with the world, I also value time alone.
I need moments when there is no agenda and no expectation. Time to discover the magic of a new author, linger over a beautifully written passage, explore an exhibit a museum has shared online, or listen to music. These quiet interludes create a different kind of nourishment than activity and accomplishment ever can.
Perhaps that is why my chair by the window has become so important to me. It is more than a comfortable place to sit. It is a place to pause and reconnect with myself. A place where I can breathe more deeply, notice the beauty around me, and pay attention to thoughts that are often drowned out by the noise of everyday life.
I think we all need a place like that. A place where we can retreat from the demands of the world for a little while—not to escape life, but to experience it more fully. A place to feed our spirit, restore our perspective, raise our awareness, and replenish our soul. In the quiet, we often rediscover what matters most.
Peace be with you.
Aging with Grace 
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