When is it responsible and reasonable to take time out? And what do we do when taking time for ourselves seems impossible? There is a beautiful answer, and it lies closer than our fingertips.

Everyone these days is exercising, "in the zone," chillin', or living on the edge. Hang-gliding, bungie jumping, or flying a small plane are exciting ways to take a few hours of time away from our daily grind, but not all of us can do this. Even a day at the local spa may not be for to everyone’s taste. Perhaps someone's body precludes yoga or a trip to the gym, in or out of one's home. What do we do when the world becomes just too much?

One way to escape for me is to lose myself in writing. Keep a journal. Find some good books. Reading is a beautiful getaway.

The finest and most life-enhancing gift of taking time for me is meditation. There are books and magazines, but the greatest thing I do for my own self is to find a quiet place where I can be alone. I find something I can use, like a candle, to remove myself from the day-to-day world of work and school, and I connect with Universal Consciousness. My mind and spirit moves to a peaceful place where I am alone with the universe, alone inside myself, alone and yet a part of everything around me. There is so much to reach, so many levels of peace, love, and caring for other people, places, and all sentient beings on in the universe. During this time of hardship, unemployment, and widespread depression, we can tap into a deeper joy, a beauty beyond words and our day-to-day senses. This place is always inside me, it never leaves me. My life is better, my words are more powerful, and life is peaceful. In spite of the problems of the world, my life is positive and beautiful. All it takes is closing my eyes and opening my spirit to the universe around me.

This is how I take time out of the physical world and step fully into the world of the spiritual that exists all around me. Yes, all in all, it is an amazing universe we live in. Peace exists within us all. We just need to know where to look.  Within.

Taking time out can mean all the difference in the world. The best part is the peace we bring into this world each time we venture into the limitless universe. We become better with every "time out" we take, enhancing every moment of every day.

Remember, take time out of time for you, and you touch everyone around you, blessing them with your peaceful nature.