Tranquillity. She deserves more attention, more respect. We’re always so busy. We don’t take lunch breaks in the park, we take them at our desk, during a phone call, in a meeting. I didn’t meet Tranquillity for sixty years. There were so many deadlines in our publishing house, piles of paperwork and far too few coffee breaks. My coffee was gulped over pages, leaving brown rings on the paper.

I met Tranquillity in retirement. Suddenly, I had time. To hear the early birdsong, feel the whispering breeze through my thin hair, meet strangers who turned into friends. I felt relaxed for the first time in my life. If only someone introduced me to Tranquillity earlier. I might not have had that heart attack.

Tranquillity shouldn’t be ignored until retirement. Take a flask of coffee to the park and go ahead and meet her.