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.