Even when others will not know,

I will.

The scenario: We use a self-scan lane to check out of the grocery store. Grabbing our bags, we run through the just-starting rain to our car. As we’re hurriedly loading the bags into our car, we notice a package of nuts. Not remembering having scanned it, we check the receipt. No nuts! We have two options.

(1) Tell ourself it’s no big deal—plus it’s raining harder now! And just drive away.

(2) Run back through the rain into the store, apologize, and pay for the nuts.

We can justify our reasons for choosing option one: all that rain, we need to get home, we’re a good customer who buys a lot at the store, it’s only a few dollars, etc. What if we choose option two? We’ll get wet! But we also get to have a clear conscience. When we unload the bags at home, we can look at the nuts and feel good that we did the right thing. We’ll not be bothered by guilt every time we eat a few.

Doing what is right may be inconvenient. Most likely, no one will know about it. But we’ll know. And get to feel good about doing the right thing.

Getting directions to Carnegie Hall . . .

Go for a retreat.

Not out there, but within.

Who hasn’t looked forward to a vacation? Or perhaps a quiet weekend away from it all? A secluded retreat? Who hasn’t daydreamed of an exotic place filled with new sights and excitement? Or longed for peace and quiet.

Then one day, we checked out what was appealing, looked into available options, and made our plans. We made arrangements for home and work, and booked our reservations.

The day finally came, and we were off.

And then—all too soon—it was time’s up, time to return home.

Back in our regular routine, we began to fantasize about our next vacation or quiet retreat. But do we really need to go through all the searching and planning to find the sought-after change from our daily routine? Not really.

If we’re seeking peace and quiet, we can find a secluded place at home and settle in. We can power down our smartphones and computers, let go of the daily noise, turn on the chanting music, close our eyes, and tune out the world.

And find real peace—the one already within us.