We hiked a lot, but also made sitting peacefully and listening to the sounds of the water a main focus. I really wanted us all to ingrain that serene sound of moving water and all the relaxed, peaceful feelings associated with it.

Elaine and I also wanted to give our daughters the gift of learning how to relax themselves any time anywhere. We felt that creating a memory of this place and our experience there would give us all a mental file we could open for years whenever we would need comforting.

Our daughters really enjoyed these excursions, and they quickly became a favorite thing to do. Our youngest, Veronica, fell in love with imitating the sound of the water with her own voice, which we know helps deepen its memory even further. One night last winter when she was having difficulty getting to sleep, I asked her to describe our quiet river place for me. She told me how much she enjoyed this place. She described in good detail how the tree line came right down to the water, the smells, colors, and especially the sound of the water-which I asked her to make for me. She whispered this sound in my ear. And I had her repeat it a few times. Not long afterward, she fell asleep, calm and happy.

We began using the sound of the river as a way of getting her relaxed in multiple situations after that-and to this day more and more situations. She, for example, uses the sound of water to help quell frustrations she sometimes feels in getting out of the house in a timely fashion or when she is looking for something she can't find and of course when she just wants to relax-like when we are sitting on our swing out back and just chilling. And she is taking more easily to using it this way.

An unusual (and somewhat mysterious) event just occurred as I am writing this post-which I can't help but include. I began this piece last night in my office and hoped to finish it today. For something different, I am at my favorite Starbucks sitting at a table with my laptop and a tea latté. And just as I am revising this very section, in walks my wife and Veronica (now 4). Elaine places Veronica in my arms and I tell her that I am just writing about her and our quiet river place. And she knows immediately which place I am referring to. She hugs me and smiles and so does my wife Elaine as one of our favorite summer memories opens in all our minds, now a year later. So what else to do but ask Veronica to make her sound of water-which she does for us and you can see the calm and happiness streaming through her as she smiles even more deeply.

So we have all been the beneficiaries of this free gift nature have given. The best part is that it will have lasting power and will be there for each us as we encounter the wear and tear of daily stressors.

I highly recommend finding a quite place of your own, with your family. It can make for something fun to do, as well as give you and your child a new way to combat anxieties.

Why not start today? That way you will be all set when the need for a little comfort arises.

Here is an exercise you might like to try to get you going.

Exercise:

Use Natural Sound. This exercise can be enjoyed by adults, teens, children and families and can tap some of our deepest and earliest musical memories. Find a quiet place. At first, pick a spot where you can find and enjoy natural sounds that are commonly loved by all-e.g. a quiet area near a stream or beach. Campfires also help create wonderfully serine environments as do cabins or favorite peaceful rooms on a day when it is gently raining.

Take some time to sit, relax, and enjoy your environment. Breathe slowly-in through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Use the bottom of your lungs to pull the air in. Try slowing your breathing to 6 or 8 deep breaths per minute, whatever you feel comfortable with, the object is to slow your breathing down. This will help you reduce your stress levels and simultaneously feel more refreshed.

Ask which sounds feel best. Try making some of the soothing sounds you hear yourself a few times. This will help give your brain the idea that the information is important. It will help ingrain it into your memory. If you are doing this with your child, ask him or her to mimic certain sounds-if they have trouble, show them how you can make the sounds.

Listen to yourself mimicking these sounds. Listen closely in general. If there is water near, listen to the nuances of its sound. Point out a few to your child. Say a bird chirps to a certain rhythm-1, 2, 3 (caw, caw, caw). And then another responds-1, 2, 3. Try imitating and having fun with that. Add a few more observations with each visit. Relax and try to keep your attention on the sounds. Do this for 5-10 minutes or whatever feels most comfortable. With practice, try to work your way up to 20 minutes. Re-visit this exercise often. Try incorporating photographs and scent and or writing (a short original poem or one you like by someone else) as part of your experience. Make a recording of what your special place sounds like or find a similar recording you can purchase. Load it onto your iPod or MP3 player and carry it with everywhere.  When you need a dose of calming, you will have some great natural medicine all ready for you.  Put your poem on a card you can carry in your wallet. Perhaps there were pines at your favorite place. Try adding a drop of pine fragrance to your card. Or maybe mom or dad has certain cologne that everyone loves.

Each of these will help you launch your feel-good memory and vibes whenever you need them. This can instantly zap you and your family away from life's inevitable stressors and into some of your sweetest mindsets.

Enjoy.