I'm at a point in my life where I have something solid now. I'm

Hear the words of Cheryl James, known to many as a voice of music and courage, who declared: “I’m at a point in my life where I have something solid now. I’m a peaceful person, and I want to be surrounded by peace no matter what I’m doing.” These words are not spoken in haste, nor as the cry of one just beginning the journey, but as the reflection of a soul that has passed through storms, learned the value of stillness, and chosen with deliberate strength to guard its own sanctuary.

To have something solid is to have a foundation that cannot be easily shaken. The ancients compared such stability to a house built upon stone, able to withstand wind and rain. In youth, many of us build upon shifting sands—ambition, desire, approval, fleeting pleasure. But with time, wisdom teaches us to seek solidity: truth, integrity, self-respect, and love that endures. Cheryl’s words echo this ancient teaching, for she speaks not of possessions, but of an inner ground, a firmness of spirit that sustains her in all seasons.

Her longing to be a peaceful person is a mark of triumph. It is easy to win battles with others; it is far harder to win the battle within oneself. To declare oneself peaceful after a life of trial is to stand as a conqueror of fear, anger, and chaos. In every age, the sages taught that true victory lies not in conquering lands, but in conquering the restless heart. Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, sat upon a throne of armies, yet wrote daily of his desire for inner peace. Likewise, Cheryl James speaks with that same eternal voice: the crown of life is peace.

To be surrounded by peace is more than a wish—it is a discipline. It means choosing carefully who walks beside us, what words we allow into our ears, what habits we nurture in our days. History shows us that even the strongest falter when they keep company with turmoil. Consider Siddhartha, who became the Buddha. Surrounded by luxury, noise, and distraction, he abandoned it all to seek stillness. His peace was not found in riches, but in the company of silence, reflection, and compassion. Cheryl’s words resonate with this same truth: that the world we keep around us shapes the world we carry within.

This teaching has a lesson for us all. Too many live as if peace were an accident, a gift handed to them by chance. But peace must be chosen and defended. It is not weakness, but strength; not passivity, but the courage to turn away from noise, from conflict, from the company of those who sow chaos. To live peacefully requires sacrifice—letting go of old battles, declining the temptations of anger, refusing to feed the fire of division. Yet the reward is freedom, the calm of a soul that no longer trembles.

The ancients would say: guard your hearth. Protect the sacred flame of peace that burns within you, for it is the light that guides your steps. Build your life upon the solid things—truth, loyalty, compassion—and surround yourself with those who nurture rather than destroy. Then, no matter what storms may rise, your spirit will remain calm, your heart unshaken.

So, children of tomorrow, take this wisdom as your own: seek that solid ground within you, become a peaceful person, and choose to surround yourself with peace in all that you do. Let your friendships, your work, your home, and your dreams be shaped by it. For the one who finds peace and guards it faithfully is wealthier than kings, freer than conquerors, and closer to the divine than those who chase the fleeting shadows of the world. This is the wisdom of Cheryl James, a reminder that peace is not only a destination but a way of living.