I’ve never been an overly religious person, but back in 2013 I was in need of something bigger than myself to help me through some hard times. I started going to church, and the feel good vibes I received helped me find peace in my tangled mind.
Religious or not, I find the messages given in settings like a church to be messages I want to live by: treat others well, share what you have, help when you can, and trust in the universe. Whatever your thoughts on higher powers are, I believe everyone should find something to believe in that’s bigger than us.
It was in this time that I discovered the power of positive thoughts. The moment I relinquished control over what was bothering me and trusted in the process was the moment I felt calm, and hopeful. This was years ago, but I have held onto this mindset and use it whenever I feel necessary. A calm mind is a happy mind.
One of the places I find the most solitude and peace is in nature. I discovered a sense of who I was the last couple years after diving head first into many hiking adventures, some solo, most with friends. There is something powerful about observing nature for what it’s worth and appreciating the effort that went into its creation.
On my recent trip to Portland, I found myself appreciating the beauty of nature from a religious standpoint while wandering around The Grotto. I was in absolute awe of the history here and the air around these trees felt lighter and full of life.
Although I don’t identify myself as a Catholic, the work that went into preserving the peace within this area is enough for anyone to appreciate. No matter your beliefs, in the end as long as you live a life of integrity, honesty, helpfulness, and trust the process – life becomes much easier.
I’ve been talking a lot about manifesting lately, and it’s something I’ve grown fond of. This universal practice of turning your thoughts into reality has been around for ages, and I’ve been putting all the things I want into the universe and slowly but surely the seeds I’m planting are starting to grow. As with most things, this takes time.
I set a goal of honoring my thoughts more this year, and paying attention to the waves that flow through my brain space. I truly believe life is too short to have worry, fear, anxiety, distress, and discomfort. These emotions come when we set our focus on the future, or the past, both of which are irrelevant because all we have is now.
My takeaway message is this: whatever you believe, you must believe in something. We are a much smaller piece of the worldly puzzle and having “something” to lean on when things get difficult helps make this life we create a much smoother ride.
Find your “Being” and run with it. This is a constant work in progress as life is one big mind game, and only those who can complete their puzzle come out on top.
Q: Where do you go to find peace and solitude? The trees, always the trees. And sometimes a bakery… 😉
Blissfulbritt 
91 thoughts on “The Grotto”
John Kraft
Excellent.
Brittany
It was most excellent indeed! 🙂
Notes from the Scenic Route
I love the Grotto! Stunning place.
Brittany
So much feel good in that place.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
Well, I could have taken you to THE GROTTO here in Hollywood… But I don’t think there would be much SOLITUDE at that one…
Brittany
Sounds like a cesspool…
Patrick
A wonderful posting Brittany!! Cheers to you!!!
Brittany
Thank you, and thank you for reading! 🙂
wanderwolf
The romantic transcendentalists found the divine in thinking about and being in nature. You must be a romantic! I am, and I found your reflections struck a nerve in me… reminded me that I want to spend more time appreciating natural beauty.
But also, I appreciate your reminder to not let myself be consumed with too many thoughts of the past and the future. With graduate application decisions and big races on the horizon, I’m spending too much time dwelling on what I’ve failed on in the past, and fearing what may happen in the future. In the meantime, there’s so much to be happy about and wonder about now!
Brittany
Yes! You’ve nailed it with missing the present moment! We have no control over past and can only determine the future by being present in the now! I suppose I am a bit of a romantic though I’ve never really thought about it. 😝
wanderwolf
Ah.. But the Romanticists are not to be confused with romantics. There’s no shame in admitting to be one like Keats, Byron, or Shelley
Brittany
Ah! I totally misread 🙈
wanderwolf
Ha ha. Aren’t you so glad I didn’t call you a romantic? I wouldn’t want to be called one (though all the power to those who are!)
@fitone
Loved this! Thanks for sharing.
Brittany
Thank you for reading! 🙂
darkskyrunner
My peace is outside. Thank you for sharing.
Brittany
Great minds think alike! Thank you for reading. 🙂
ingrid
I love the takeaway message ! I always find peace and solitude on my hiking trip …
Brittany
Hiking is where I discover what I’m made of! 💪🏼
ingrid
I totally feel the same !!! 🙂
Angela
Loved this!! I feel peace and most connected when I’m near the ocean!
Brittany
Oh yes! The sound of the waves is unlike anything else. Similar to the wind in the trees. Soul talk. 🙂
shellybartz
Wow! This was so powerful! You expressed yourself so clearly and perfectly! I have a place I go to that moves me…something about it…very powerful. It is called San Damiano and the grounds are beautiful and I feel like a part of me is there.
Brittany
It’s so nice to have a spot like that, somewhere to always go when needed!
whostardis
my peace is also with nature. when im feeling especially stressed I go sit outside on our patio that is surrounded by trees, flowers, shrubs, just nature. instantly makes me feel better. great post, more positive vibes in the world would not be a bad thing at all!
Brittany
I want to come sit on your porch, it sounds magical!
whostardis
anytime!!! Houston is close to you right?! 😉
Katie T
Similar to you, the natural world is where I seek restoration. When it’s not possible to get into the realm of the outdoors, a walk through the urban environment provides a good plan B. Even a good book can provide a needed escape from the now into a whole new world of possibilities. Such a well articulated, reflective post!
Brittany
A good book is a great one!
Allie Zottola
Beautiful pictures and a beautiful message! Sometimes when I need peace, I actually find I’m craving connection with others. I’m alone all day at work, so being with others gets me out of my head. Also, nature. And just sitting at my kitchen table with a coffee, my journal, and my Bible brings me peace!
Brittany
I have been surprised to find how much I enjoy being around others at times. I tend to want alone time because my job is the opposite and I usually burn out on people time, but with the right people things can be replenished!
My Pirate Chambers
This is one of my favorite of your posts. Thank you.
Brittany
Thank you so much, your comment has made my day. 🙂
My Pirate Chambers
AZ peeps have to stick together!
Josh dV
My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.~Aldous Huxley
Excellent sentiments Britt. I’m happy I know you (a little). You touch on a number of things I have found to be necessary for my life.
You are talking about Steps Two and Three of the Twelve Step Program. Belief in a higher power AND the willingness to turn our lives over to that higher power as we understand it.
The universality of the Golden Rule is something we Baha’i’s promote as well. All of it is of God.
For me I find it easiest to calm my mind when I’m running the trails, but you hit upon the truth of it. If I am doing my part and strong in my detachment from all save my spiritual relationship with my higher power then I can bring my serenity with me wherever I go.
There is a Program saying: Serenity isn’t freedom from the storm, it is peace within the storm.
Brittany
I just love your comments, they are some of my favorites. Thank you for sharing all that you share!
Josh dV
That is such a kind thing to say. Thank you.
April
I love this post. I find myself seeking similar things as I get older. I feel my soul is constantly searching for peace and contentment. I have found a piece of both of those things in my daughters ❤ I also need my 'mommy time' I am completely out of balance without that. I need to be alone outside, in the woods, near the ocean or on the trail. These are my happy places. Where I can reflect and grow.
I really enjoy your posts and look forward to reading them 🙂
Brittany
I don’t have kids, but I can only imagine the joy they can bring you!
Jane
I can certainly relate to this post, Brittany. Usually, I feel most at peace on my walks in nature as there is less distraction but I also enjoy spending time with close friends who allow me to be myself. Sometimes a random chat with a stranger can be very uplifting and leave me feeling renewed as well. Peace can be found in odd places at times too. Beautiful post. 🙂
Brittany
I couldn’t agree more with the chatting a stranger! I have been more open to doing this lately (outside of work of course) and it’s been so rewarding.
Ellie
For peace and solitude, I lay on my bed and close my eyes and pray. I give gratitude to God for the good things in my life and as Him to take away my stress about the bad. Usually this happens when I get into bed each night, but some afternoons when I get a chance, I do this as well. It makes me feel so good!
Brittany
I love it! Great practice to do every night.
usabaker
Wonderful post Brittany! God is great and has blessed my and my family and I’m fortunate to find him in every place I go in some form or another. When I need calm it the outdoor and the solitude it go to
Brittany
I find most my readers relate to the outdoor soul revival! I love it.
usabaker
When I was younger and just off active duty. Life’s pressures and work were so bad that the only thing that helped me cope is escaping to the forest alone. I used to tell my family I was going hunting as none liked to trudge though the remote parts of the forest but in reality I never fired a single shot; it was a guise so I could be alone. The forest have always been my sanctuary. I did get marked as a really terrible hunter though.
Brittany
I love this, thank you for sharing, and thank you for not shooting. 😝
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
What a lovely post and a stunning place. I find when I’m in nature, say a field of sun flowers, it gives you a profound appreciation for whatever out there could create this. It’s a little awe inspiring and I’m experiencing something similar with my own body right now. I recognize I am definitely not in control and am stunned by the small and big changes taking place and realize it’s all for a reason outside of me.
Happy today.
Brittany
I can only imagine what you feel with a tiny tomato growing inside and taking control of your body! I loved those sunflowers. ❤️
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
What a beautiful building. I totally agree that you don’t have to be religious to appreciate the messages that you can get from religion.
Brittany
I’m glad someone understood what I was getting at there! 😝
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Nature is what does it for me as well… especially the mountains. And as someone who has a pretty hardcore control freak nature, realizing that there was actually so much out there that I couldn’t control was probably one of the most freeing things ever. I’m pretty fond of the whole “go with the flow” approach.
Brittany
It’s life changing, literally!
Hayley Blake
I love this. Totally relate to your stance on religion and agree it’s important to believe in SOMETHING, whatever that is for you. You’re a wise one 🙂 ❤
Brittany
Just call me Master Brittany. 😝
Jim Brennan
Brittany, I loved this beautiful post, your caring and heartfelt words. I am so with you on everything, in particular living a life of integrity and honesty, and life being too short to waste on anxiety. I don’t know that anyone can get around anxiety, but having a value system helps you deal with it, and that place of solitude. I have a sacred place in Doylestown, PA I visit that reminds me of the Grotto, it’s call Our Lady of Czestochowa. Whenever I’m on the grounds high on a hill overlooking a lake, my mind is eased and I am free. Sometimes I go there just to chill, and sometimes I pass through on a 10-mile run, it’s all the same. I’ll be going to the summit of Mount Rainier in September, and many of your posts last year got me excited. Be well, and thanks for writing this.
Brittany
Oh my, I am so excited for your upcoming Rainier adventure, please share it on your blog! It’s on my bucket list. 🙂
Nicola
Lovely post Brit. I was raised as a Christian but haven’t been to church much in the last decade for various reasons. I’ve always found God to be outdoors rather than in. I like your word ‘manifestation’, a little more proactive than mindfulness. Peace is also found in the depths of a cup of coffee! 😉
Brittany
OHHH the deep depths of the black goodness. ☕️
kadeecramer
Exactly what I needed right now. ❤ Beautiful.
Brittany
❤️❤️❤️
P
This place looks absolutely beautiful and stunning…
Running provides me we peace and solitude…at least most of the time, and if my foot isn’t suffering from extensor tendonitis 😦
Brittany
Ugh to foot pain. 😖
allisonfiorini
I am Catholic, and I go to church every week and confession when I can get to mass early enough. With that being said, I don’t necessarily view myself as a typical Catholic. I love to go to church, but my main belief above all is to treat others with respect and compassion, be kind and honest. Much of what you were talking about above. I don’t care what religious affiliation others have. If they live their life with the intention to be a good person, that’s better than having a religious affiliation. I was raised Catholic, and I like the traditions and what it stands for but I realize it isn’t for everyone. As for where I go for solitude, I would agree with you. The trees. Well, really the roads when I run but if they are lined with lots of trees…BONUS. It’s how I can clear my head and come to rationale answers to problems and focus on the things that really matter 🙂
Brittany
I was raised Catholic too, and have found I connect more with other types of Christian churches, so I get what you’re saying! To each their own in all walks of life, and running makes me a better person for all. Haha.
Musings
Well, I’m always content in my bed…but when I have to be a functioning adult, I find peace in cafes the most. Something about the smell of coffee and the quiet hum of conversation helps me focus on writing/studying. Literally everything else but my task (which is sometimes just sipping coffee and scrolling through Instagram 😉 ) leaves my mind and as someone that seriously overthinks, it’s like bliss!
While I’m not particularly fond of the beach (ew, sand everywhere) I always feel peaceful there as well.
And that church is gorgeous!
Brittany
Oh my gosh I totally understand the cafe vibes. I adore going to them to blog, but sadly can’t do school work because I loose focus to the zen. Hahah.
Jean Miller
We LOVE The Grotto… thanks for sharing!
Brittany
I love when other share they’ve been! ❤️
Shawna
as a Christian with a strong faith, i love this post. i definitely find God in nature and solitude as well — such a strong connection there. God is so elemental to me. beautiful place.
Brittany
You would have loved walking through these trees. ❤️
Jade
That second photo is so symmetrical and I love it. Also, yes, trees and bakeries. 🙂
Brittany
That meditation room was amazing.
Bradley on the Run
I lived in Japan for many years, and found the serenity of the shrines and temples there really resonated with me, and gave me a sense of peace. Not in a religious sense, just in a ‘connection’ kind of way. The Grotto looks amazing and I want to visit Portland again…mostly because of your blog!!!
Brittany
Yay! I hope you get a chance to go adventure again soon. 😝
Kayse
Love this post, Britt. I seek out trees and rivers. Or I toss my kayak on top of my car and head for the lake by myself.
Brittany
Omg I need a kayak!
Kayse
You doooooo!!!! Seriously, I’d give up all my other hobbies and only kayak if I could do it year round here. Kayaking is so wonderful.
stateeats
Gorgeous photos! I left like I was almost there with you. Everyone needs time to recharge. – Kat
Brittany
I’m happy to virtually take you on the adventure! 🙂
darwinontherocks
This place looks amazing. Very quiet, perfect of introspection. I find peace while I’m hiking, especially when I’m tired and exhausted.. so exhausted that I can’t think about anything else but the hike 😉 It’s weird but after this kind of effort, I feel amazing
Brittany
I know exactly what you mean when you say so exhausted you can’t think of anything. It hurts so good.
darwinontherocks
I know you would 😀
dave379
Love the post and messages to live by, and the values underpinning them like honesty, integrity, and compassion, which I share. Nature’s a well of peace or me too. Agree too on letting go and trusting and having faith as part of the way to greater calm, and appreciate it as a reminder since that’s something I want to do more of myself.
Brittany
It’s something I have to remind myself of often!
mylittletablespoon
This is wonderful and connects with all my thoughts precisely. I’ve struggled with the notion of calling myself any sort of religious, but like you, have found the surroundings of a church to bring a sense of peace and connection, especially in those difficult times. At 26 I still don’t know “what” I believe in, but I know I have to believe in something. It just.. helps. Nature though. The most peace is found in nature.
Brittany
Yup! You totally get it and I’m with you all the way. 🙂
Jessica
For peace and solitude, I go for a hike in the rain, or with trees or to church. Always hiking. 🙂
Brittany
Ohh hike in the rain, so cleansing!
Luv What You Do
Oh! Great question…a run or the yoga studio and sometimes Starbucks!
Brittany
Agreed to all of those!!