It was a typical Florida day, the kind where it’s 90 degrees by 10am, with the humidity at 400% and me wondering why I even bothered to do my hair.
So when my boyfriend suggested checking out the Dames Caves in Lecanto, FL, I thought it sounded like something interesting to do, so I said yes.
I was just looking for a new adventure and a change of pace. But what I found instead was stillness. Those caves became a reminder that peace doesn’t always lie in the sunlight.
Stepping Into Stillness
There’s a short trail through the woods to get to the caves, which sounds nice until you remember that it’s Florida. By the time we got to the first cave, I was sweating and my hair adhd doubled in size.
To be honest, I was a little nervous stepping into that first cave. I am not exactly tall (okay, I am very short) and the climb down was a little steep.
I got out of my head and headed down. And what a difference it was inside the cave. It was like stepping into another world. It was cool, dark, and quiet. No noise. No cell signal. Just darkness among the stone walls.
It was oddly regulating for my body. I wasn’t nervous anymore. The quiet and stillness was calming.
Going Underground
Going underground kind of reminded me of going inward emotionally. It’s dark. It’s quiet. It’s a little uncomfortable at first. And yet, that’s where the good stuff happens.
Sometimes we have to go beneath the surface, into quiet and uncomfortable places, to rediscover clarity or calm.
Exploring those caves reminded me of what healing often feels like: stepping into the unknown, sitting with the dark for a while, and realizing that light doesn’t always come from above. Sometimes it comes from within.
Lessons in Slowing Down
Here’s what those caves taught me (besides the fact that I should really work on my upper body strength):
✨Stillness feels weird at first. But it’s where we reconnect with ourselves again.
✨The world keeps turning even when you don’t. You don’t have to earn rest.
✨Peace often hides in places we overlook. (One of the caves is literally called the Peace Cave)
✨Slowing down in therapy for your nervous system. It’s how we move from ‘doing’ to simply ‘being.’
Emerging Back Into the Light
Leaving the cave, I was immediately smacked in the face by the Florida sun. The brightness was blinding and the heat relentless, but somehow it all felt softer. The world was the same, but I felt different.
After being in the dark, the light felt louder. The breeze, the birds, even the sounds of my shoes crunching on the trail all felt more alive.
Maybe that’s what slowing down does. It doesn’t change the world; it changes the way we experience it.
Sometimes the most powerful reset isn’t a big change, but a quiet moment underground.
💌 Your Turn
I encourage you to try to find your own “underground calm.’ It doesn’t have to involve a cave (unless you’re into that). It could be a quiet park, a cozy coffee shop, or your own porch at sunset.
Wherever it is, go there. Be still. Listen. You might be surprised what you find when you stop rushing.
And if you’ve found peace in an unexpected place, I’d genuinely love to hear about it. Drop it in the comments below.
If you’re ready to take your own gentle first step, I’d love to invite you to subscribe to my newsletter. You will receive a free download of my 5-Day Self-Care Reset Plan. It’s a simple way to start making space for yourself again, in just five minutes a day.
Feel free to visit my Etsy shop for resources to help you on your journey. I also have a free private self-care interactive Facebook group for women that you can join here.
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