My Place of Tranquility

On dictionary.com Tranquility is defined as being: "free from commotion or tumult; peaceful; quiet; calm." Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine an existing place that you have experienced this perfect serenity. Relish in the sensations, perhaps the warmth of the sun on your cheeks or the smell of budding pine trees in your surroundings. Now tune in with your ears, is this peaceful place indeed absent of noise as the definition warrants?

Oddly enough, it was not the case for any of the calm places I conjured to memory; which brought me to an alternate definition. To be, "free from or unaffected by disturbing emotions; unagitated; serene; placid," was much more relatable. The places I pictured do not lack noise, they rather accompany static sounds- a soft rumble or cars driving in the distance; however to associate this "quiet" to the freedom of an uncluttered mind is perfectly fitting to my place of tranquility.

My Place of Tranquility

Lately I have found myself seeking opportunities to reflect on small moments, which could make a big difference to my perspective in the future. In this tiny instant I feel as though time has stopped in order to allow me to appreciate the situation further.

I hold completely still and listen to the sounds, placing them in juxtaposition: the delicate bustling of a flight attendant and the roar of the airplanes engines that vibrate in my seat. No matter its difficulty I will try to grasp this moment and remember it for as long as I can. But catching a memory is like using a butterfly net to entrap the wind; swiftly it can escape and drift away from you. The lights over head dim and flicker, until they ease completely into night mode. A stranger, near me expresses his appreciation through a snore, already deep in slumber.

The screen on my "In-Flight Entertainment System" is now blindingly bright, and as my eyes adjust I notice something interesting. The little animated airplane is gliding its way across the flight map between Calgary and Frankfurt, now resting perfectly at the midpoint in my travels. From my experience at this time, the calmest and most still part of the flight, I discover my deepest serenity.

38,000 feet above the earth, it's hard to feel any connection to the life below. There is no way for the world underneath to contact me. I feel like an alien species. In turn I have no means of communication to them, whether it be an important follow up email to an interview or to plan an event with friends. There is no way to allow for a tardy or even punctual arrival, because I have no control over the speed of the airplane. Essentially, time has stopped, I have zero impact on my life once in the air, and this life can have no effect on me. Its as though, if only for this moment, I have no responsibilities or cumbrances. So I sit in my most peaceful place for no less than eight beautiful relaxing hours and simply cease to exist.

Time to Frankfurt................... 4 hours and 4 minutes

-Alexis Halloran, The Nyctophilia Diaries

(30.11.2015 @ 0529)