“Imagine if every day began with a simple choice—the choice to let peace flow through you like a gentle stream, carrying mindfulness, compassion, and loving-kindness in its current.
When we make this choice, something beautiful happens. We start to smile—not a forced smile, but one that rises naturally from a heart that’s found its center, its calm, its connection to what matters most.
That smile touches our own spirit first, softening the harsh way we sometimes speak to ourselves, reminding us that we deserve gentleness too. And then, almost without trying, it reaches outward—to the person we pass on the street, to our family across the breakfast table, to the stranger whose eyes meet ours for just a moment.
And in that smile, in that brief flash of warmth, good energy transfers. Peace moves from one heart to another like light passing between candles. Someone who was having a hard morning feels a little lighter. Someone who felt invisible feels seen. Someone who forgot that kindness still exists gets a small, precious reminder.
Peace doesn’t always require grand gestures or dramatic transformations. Sometimes it starts with something as small and simple as choosing to be mindful enough to bring a genuine smile to ourselves and others.
One smile. One moment of presence. One conscious breath that helps us remember we can choose peace even when everything around us feels chaotic.
And from that single choice, from that one mindful moment, ripples begin spreading outward—touching lives we’ll never know about, creating small shifts that accumulate into something much larger, helping peace grow in a world that desperately needs more of it.
This is how change happens. Not through force or demand, but through gentle, consistent choices made by ordinary people who decide that peace matters enough to practice it in the smallest moments of their days.
May we all remember: peace starts with a choice. It lives in mindfulness. It spreads through simple things like a sincere smile. And it ripples outward in ways we cannot measure but can absolutely trust.
May you and all beings be well, happy, and at peace.”

— Buddhist Monks Walk for Peace

— Opening reading chosen and read by Bonnie L.

Saturday was forecast to be rainy all day, and yet I hoped Walking in Wonder wasn’t cancelled!  I have rain boots, and a rain coat, and a baseball cap:  so long as it isn’t windy and dangerous, I love being outside in all kinds of weather.  Especially at Brookgreen.

As some of you know, I teach Yin yoga.  It’s my favorite modality because it allows for stillness and introspection while spending time in the poses.  It also encourages us to notice our reactions to stimulii.  Rain=YUCK!  Or Rain=YAY!  Whenever I can, I try to remember to choose YAY!

Saturday I found lots of YAY!  In the company of the cacophony of birds, the silence of the drippy trees, and of course our fellow wonder walkers.

Bark so thick I can hold hands with it.

Trees so big and old and drippy remind me many beautiful nows equal a giant life.

Fellow journeymen enjoying a good puddle (video above)

Today I held hands with a tree, 

It was oh so much bigger than me! 

Though it made me feel small, I wanted to celebrate all

Of the beautiful things, wrapped in the many rings

Inside that thick old beautiful bark.

— Video, photos and reflection by Kelly GS