Finding Peace in Arkansas
Kylee and I recently returned from an incredible trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. During our six days there, we canoed the Buffalo River, explored downtown, enjoyed great food, and stayed in one of the most peaceful and romantic cabins we’ve ever visited.
The trip was filled with memorable moments, but when I think back on it now, the things that stand out most aren’t the attractions or activities. They’re the quiet moments—the river, the cabin, and the sense of peace that seemed to follow us everywhere we went.
What surprised me most wasn’t the destination itself. It was what the trip taught me about myself.
During the trip, I realized that my mind and body are craving peace.
What does that actually mean?
For me, peace isn’t the absence of responsibility. I’m a dreamer, but I’ve never been someone who believes in running away from problems. Life will always come with obligations, deadlines, and commitments. Peace isn’t avoiding those things—it’s being intentional about which ones deserve my attention.
What I discovered is that productivity and happiness often come from subtraction rather than addition.
I spent less time on my phone. I checked email less frequently. I established boundaries and gave myself permission not to be constantly available. The world didn’t stop turning. Nothing fell apart. In fact, I felt more present, more creative, and more focused than I had in months.
Somewhere along the way, many of us started treating constant accessibility as normal. Every notification demands attention. Every email feels urgent. Every app competes for a small piece of our focus. The result is a constant stream of noise that follows us everywhere.
For a while, that noise became quieter.
I noticed the sound of the river more than my phone. I paid attention to conversations instead of notifications. I spent more time observing the world around me and less time reacting to it.
The lesson I brought home wasn’t that I need to move to a cabin in the woods or abandon modern life. It was much simpler than that.
I need to make room for peace.
Not once a year on vacation.
Every day.