What is a time, activity, place, etc., that brought peace/serenity?

The one time that was not as peaceful of a dive, was back in 2000. My dad and I were on a SCUBA live aboard. These dive trips are pretty much exclusively diving from a boat, which at the time was my dream life (actually, having said that, it is still my dream life...) So, my dad was newly certified. The first dive of the day is the deepest due to the nitrogen build up in the blood and needing to do several safety stops on the ascent to get the nitrogen out of the blood stream, so as not to get "the bends." The night dive, the night before, one of the dive team threw a flashlight down to me in the water. It hit my regulator (what I breath through). I thought nothing of it. The next morning, my dad and I were on the deep dive, which was about 89 ft. deep. On our way up, we were doing our safety stop. I felt and heard a loud noise. It felt like someone had punch me in the face. I looked at him to see what his reaction was. He didn't notice. So, next, my regulator blows. It blew out of my mouth and started flailing around underwater. I remember looking at my dad and his eyes were as big as saucers. I was so proud of him though. I was taught early on, not to panic underwater. I immediately grabbed his second stage "octopus". He did not panic either. He grabbed my buoyancy compensator vest (BC) and I started breathing off his tank. We finished our safety stop. It turned out that when the girl threw the flashlight and it hit my regulator, it weakened the o-ring. That is so much pressure in those air tanks that I am lucky it didn't knock out my teeth! I remember telling my dad how proud I was of him for not panicking although we laughed about what I saw and the size of his eyes behind his mask.

@diverdown1
Great (scary) story. O rings? Challenger?

@diverdown1
Who moved my cheese?

@diverdown1
The trail to Cloud Peak is mostly an easy slight incline for the 6 miles. The last 1/4 mile is steep and almost seems vertical as you go up a bowl. You cross the crest of the bowl at 10,200 ft and the view is spectacular! I'm 84 now and I not sure I could do the hike again. Even in late summer, I don't think you would want to go into the lake.
Near Asheville is a YMCA camp. The National Wildlife Federation would have a week long education program there. My family went there several times. The Program was called Summit Camps.

@diverdown1
Every Saturday night we watched Sea Hunt. Lloyd Bridges. Lots of bubbles. I really wanted to do self contained underwater breathing apparatus. Too afraid. Snorkeling was enough. Even there, big barracuda.
"The sea is my home. Keep it clean!"

@shmerdloff
Mike Nelson🤿

@shmerdloff

Those were the days. Seems like all those folks had one episode where there leg got caught in a giant clam shell!

Zen Buddhist meditation retreats. Not a suburban look at my Athleta Yoga outfit, but sitting, walking (kin hin), Dharma talks late night, up at 5 am (bathroom anyone?) , work practice (samu), silence, sanga stays together including meals/prayers (no strolling around), chanting.
I was in St.John's Dark Night of the Cross, or midlife crisis. Little could be further from my way of life than sitting on the floor for hours and chanting in Japanese, Pali, or Chinese, but why could I not sit perfectly still for more than 5 minutes?
With years of practice (basically making sentience a part of living) a reality (my reality) came to me piece by piece until I realized what the game is, and what I was doing so so wrong, making my own grief. #1. Lack of self-discipline. #2. Trying to live an life not authentic and based upon an ever receding fantasy, and much more. Van Morrison: minute by minute second by second you're making your reality every day.
With each retreat, I found centeredness and peace (for a day🙂) which eventually has become peace - with change, ignorance, hostility, greed, etc. etc. in this world not so upsetting. Understanding and acceptance. A little Elizabeth Kubler Ross?
I could still use self-discipline and more understanding of how this works. I am not "there" yet. There is no "There." Wu Xi (nothing special)
The true paths of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism can take you to the same place. Even Zoroaster and B'hái. Some say it's what God wants you to know about His Creation. The "suchness" of it all.