Peace of Mind… (blog)

The roses in this photo were sent to my sister Molly by her best friend. The reason? To let Molly know that she was thinking of her. They have known each other since college, and they remain loving, loyal friends to this day. I find great Peace in knowing that Molly has such a person in her life.

When I think about the simple act of kindness shown by sending these flowers, I am reminded that being kind is a choice.

A couple of days ago, I was at the grocery store, and an elderly man was pushing his shopping cart toward the collection area, and I offered to take it for him. He agreed, and then proceeded to walk beside me and to get another basket to go back into the store. I chuckled and told him that I thought he was finished with the cart and that I was simply trying to be kind. He indicated that he knew that was my intention and that it was so kind, he wanted to return the favor by giving me his cart. We had a good laugh about it, and a woman standing close by began to laugh too. She said we were having so much fun that she couldn’t help herself.

I didn’t know the man or the woman, and we will likely never see each other again, but for a moment in the middle of the day, the joy of a simple act of kindness brought us together in a wonderful way. As I walked into the store with my cart, I felt a sense of Peace for the smiles and laughs I had shared with my new friends.

This Peace Walker believes there are opportunities every day for kindness, if we are willing to see them.

I wonder what would happen if each person did one act of kindness every day. What sort of ripple will each kindness create? How many people will be impacted by it?

It’s a simple challenge, really. Go out of your way to BE kindness.

You’ll be amazed by the response…

 

There is no way to Peace, Peace is the way.

A.J. Muste

Today, as the world reacted to the results of the election in the United States, I found myself in the midst of a sea of e-mails, voice mail messages, posts and comments covering a wide range of emotions. I, too, am feeling the energy of the day. 

While there is much speculation about what is to come, as well as commentary on what has been, I find myself wanting to look at what is right in front of us.

Choice. We are at choice. And I choose Peace.

What Peace looks like to me is:

• Engaging people in conversation to find the things we have in common, thereby finding alignment.
• Looking at our uniqueness as a gift to be celebrated.
• Being kind for the sake of kindness.
• Respecting every person’s right to choose the best path for themselves.
• Honoring  the very humanity in every person, everywhere, in every walk of life.
• Reaching out a hand to help whenever I am able.

Let us all take a moment to  think about our own lives, families and communities, and BE Peace. The world aches for the energy of connection and the healing that it can bring.

Today, I choose to replace anger with action, to meet sadness with spiritual practice, to release fear with faith and to fully embrace Peace.

Peace Unites.

Today’s election in the United States has surprised even the experts. The polls and predictions have been proven wrong by a large margin. And, this country will have a new President to swear in, in January.

I have also watched this country become more polarized during this election cycle.

Tonight more than ever, I hold that we must find a way to live with one another in Peace here, and all around the world.

 

Today, I thought a great deal about the election which will take place tomorrow in the United States, and I wondered what each of the candidates (an their running mates, for that matter) might be feeling on this particular day.

Unfortunately, this political “season” has been full of devisiveness, separation, anger and fear. The rhetoric has been hurtful, accusatory and blaming.

I don’t claim to have the answers, but one thing I know for sure. We need to find a way to engage one another in open, non-violent communication. It is imperative that we learn to come from love, not hate. We must learn the way of inclusion rather than exclusion. And we must, above all, come together in Peace.

 

 

In times of greatest change in my life, I have found that grounding myself in things that nourish me generally pertain to my senses. I know I’ve spoken before about being a touchy feely person, and it is a way of being that needs nurturing as well as replenishing.

I’ve been pretty focused during my time with my sister(s) on working. On getting things done. On staying on the task at hand. Don’t get me wrong, it has been a good, productive time.

This morning though, Marybeth, Molly and I sat down and had breakfast together. It wasn’t a long time, but it felt really nice to sit and enjoy a meal and some conversation before immersing ourselves in the day.

One of the ways we can be at Peace in our lives is to take a moment and have a meal together. It is an opportunity to engage our senses, nurture our bodies, live time together and to simply be with others. Who in your life is it time to share a meal with? Why not do it – now!

In the past couple of days, I have had conversations with colleagues about the Walk for Peace and the place deep within me that it comes from. As it happens, both conversations have been late in the day, which is a time when I usually find myself tired and ready to be done for the day. What I love is, that as soon as I am talking with others about the Walk, building community around Peace or speaking about Peace, my energy is immediately plentiful and my enthusiasm, undeniable.

You see, I believe that Peace Unites.

When I find  a place of Peace within myself, there is a way in which this energy becomes something that others can feel in me, just as I can feel it when I am around people who are in community and share Peace as the common goal.

I looked at Gracie (top photo), and Lurp (orange tabby) today, I found myself wondering what it would feel like to be one of two cats on a ranch with a significant number of dogs, two horses and a bunch of people coming and going all the time. And, I giggled, because both of them seem to have their own Peaceful way of being, and I am drawn to them. They each have a Peaceful way of navigating what could be a difficult environment and finding a way to be still in the midst of constant activity. 

Tonight,  I am grateful for cats and all that I can learn about Peace from them. And I am grateful for colleagues and the passion of purpose they bring out in me.

 

 

In the years that I have been in recovery, November has always been a month in which we share with one another the gratitude we have for having gotten sober (and clean), and for what we have in our lives that we are grateful for.

This morning, I was grateful for my sister who greeted me with a smile. And, I was grateful for my first sip of coffee. There is something so satisfying about that first sip…

As the morning progressed, I was grateful for the chance to see my sister Marybeth take a moment to remove a few yellowing leaves from the Gerbera daisy plants out front. Marybeth is a quiet person, and there is something very Peaceful for me in seeing her working with the plants.

Later, as I worked on projects, I was grateful for many things. I put up a rack to hold leashes and dog collars on the inside of a closet door, and I was grateful for knowing the right kind of anchors to use, so that the door doesn’t get damaged. As I repaired a ceiling fan/light, I was grateful that I know enough about wiring, so that I could fix it.

I was grateful to be able to help Chuck move two horse pen panels to the side of the horse stall. The panels are not heavy, but they are awkward, and having a second person, made this task easy to complete.

In the roughest, busiest times, taking a moment to review my day and to acknowledge the experiences I am grateful for is a beautiful way to bring myself to a place of Peace. For when I am in gratitude, what I have is enough.

 

Before I go to sleep at night I remove my glasses. Then, prior to putting my feet on the floor in the morning, I put on my glasses. It isn’t something I consciously think about, it just happens.

My sister Molly wears readers, and often makes her way down the hall to the lamp turned glasses holder in her room to fetch a pair (corresponding colors to the clothes she’s wearing that day) so that she can more easily read some document she’s working with.

I never thought of my glasses as part of my attire from a fashion perspective, Instead, I had two pair, one for work (less expensive) and one for the rest of the time. When I think of Molly though, I expect to see whatever pair of glasses she’s wearing match her outfit.

Either way, the glasses I wear and the glasses Molly wears help each of us to gain clarity, literally.

And that clarity, my friends, brings Peace.

 

This bloom is one of many in the planters in front of the main house on the ranch. My sister, Marybeth loves flowers, and tends these with great care, which gives me (and others, of course) an opportunity to appreciate them in their various colors and sizes.

Earlier this evening, my sister Molly’s ranch worker (and long time family friend) Chuck, began the process of mowing the pastures. When I arrived back at the ranch for the night, I could smell the freshly cut grass, which I absolutely love.

The air in this part of  Texas is thick with humidity. I happen to be someone who has very dry skin, so the moisture is a welcome gift, which I appreciate fully.

I have, for years, identified myself as a “touchy-feely” person. Perhaps this is why I feel so sated when my senses are nurtured as they have been today. What I know for sure is, that I am grateful for the moist air, the freshly mown grass and the colorful flowers. Each brought a bit of Peace to the day.

 

 

Chandler and a couple of the other dogs sat in the sunlight by a window this morning, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take this photograph. The dog on the left is Sophie, and on the right is Marley. Chandler has adapted fairly well to being in the busy, densely populated dachshund community here at the ranch, and she gets along quite well with these two.

I love the gift of observation. There is a total sense of presence in the act of observing that comes from not knowing what is going to happen, and by not being worried about it when in does. I know I’ve said this before, but I feel fortunate to have Chandler in my life.

As I thought about community today, I considered the way that Chandler lets the other dogs know when she wants more space or doesn’t want to play. It begins with a slight warning growl, followed by a high pitched single bark, which is usually enough to get them to back off. And, there is the proverbial wagging tail accompanied by quick, hopping steps alongside another dog when she is enjoying their company.

I feel as if authentic communication is a Peaceful, open-hearted start to finding Peace within our communities. Surely there will be times when we find someone that we are cautious about interacting with. Our responsibility is to communicate that energy to the other person, and to attempt to align on a way to communicate that will invite connection that is free from judgement, shame, blame and other limiting behaviors.

Today, I will seek Peace through authentic communication, and, I will stay long enough to see it in others.