There are small groups and large groups that are dedicating themselves to Peace everyday. But some of us can only contribute a little and that little goes a long way.

If we show kindness to everyone we interact with, that kindness will grow with every person.

If we genuinely smile at others, that smile becomes contagious and spreads.

Here are some good words from The Dalai Lama:

Let us cultivate love and compassion, both of which give life true meaning. This is the religion I preach. It is simple. Its temple is the heart. Its teaching is love and compassion. Its moral values are loving and respecting others, whoever they may be. Whether one is a lay person or a monastic, we have no other option if we wish to survive in this world.

I am mailing my second batch of ‘charms to heal the world’ – what are you going to do?

Peace – love and hope

ps. Check this out – they’re awesome    http://www.masterpeace.org/

Peace – love and hope to everyone!

http://www.turnto23.com/central/29175085/detail.html

Marianne Williamson  - A course in Miricles

Is there someone in your life who constantly brings you down? You can be in the best mood possible and they seem to intentionally try to ruin it? I do. All of the experts will tell you to simply avoid this person – get them out of your life or confront them about what they do to you. Sometimes that is just simply not possible – either scenario.

I used to let this person bring me down to their level and would feel just horrible for a long time afterward but no more.  The more I examined “why” this person would do this, the more I noticed how miserable this person is with their own life. I believe some people unconsciously  want you to be as miserable as they are so they will attack without notice. In a recent conversation, this person was complaining that someone close to them treated them the same way and they couldn’t understand why. The amazing thing here is that the two of them are like a reflection in a mirror. They treat each other and those around them the same exact way. And it amazes me that they have no idea, they just don’t see it.  So they continue the cycle – each hearing the others voice of criticism but never their own.

I no longer let this person bother me – I just keep the above quote in my mind.

So, your exercise today is to reflect. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to think back over the day and how you treated people. What words did you use? What tone did you use? If they were harsh words – did that person deserve it or were you just reflecting your own misery? And if you did use a harsh tone or harsh words, even if you felt the person deserved it, don’t you think you could make any situation better with kind words? I do.

The God in me salutes the God in you.

Peace – love and hope to all of you…..

Is it just me, or do you feel the ‘rage’ in people these days? I innocently posted about my experiences breast-feeding four girls on a parenting blog and could not believe the hate responses. Where is the kindness, and acceptance these days of other people’s experiences? I guess this is one of the disadvantages of technology. Blogs and posts give people the opportunity to spread their vitriol.

The above post is the first thing I saw on my Facebook page this morning. And it is exactly what I am trying to change.

It’s true – there seems to be so much rage and it seems to take very little to bring it out. I read news articles and then the comments section and I am blown away by the anger and rage that people seem to have for each other. They attack if someone has a difference of opinion.

Where is this coming from? As I posted yesterday, I firmly believe it’s fear. It’s amazing that fear can drive out all rational thoughts.

I have read wonderful stories that came out of Joplin about how people came together to help each other. I’ve read the same about the flooding in the Northeast and the wildfires in Texas. So my question is this – Why do we wait for a tragedy to help each other? To get to know our neighbors?

We need to come together in peace, love and hope.

Here’s your challenge for today – start the healing process by spreading kindness. Here are a couple of ways you can start today – for free!

Smile at a stranger.

Tell that person that you just had a transaction with (drive thru window, wait staff, bank teller, whomever) Thank you and have a great day. Say it with meaning – you will see their eyes light up.

Compliment someone on something – anything.

Peace – love and hope.

ps – the post I started with is from Healing Baskets – they are wonderful. If you haven’t heard of them, check them out  http://healingbaskets.com/

It is my prayer that each charm reaches the person that needs it the most. I chose yesterday,  September 12 because it’s time for the healing to begin. We all watched Sunday’s coverage of the 9/11 attacks and to some, I’m sure it was comforting to know their loved ones have not been forgotten. But, I’m also sure that to some it opened old wounds and brought the pain back vividly. So today let us celebrate the letting go of the destructive fear that our yesterdays might have caused (so eloquently stated by a friend).

We seem to live in a fear driven society that shows itself as anger. Anger seems to be so much more prevalent than it used to. I see angry emails in the workplace, I see angry drivers irritable because traffic is moving 5 miles under the speed limit and I see anger in people’s interactions with those they love.

This fear is understandable – we feel we can’t trust our government (either side), we’re worried we will lose our homes, if you still have one – and if you don’t you’re probably afraid you never will again and the same exact thing with a job.

In the workforce I have noticed some people are so afraid of loosing their job that they become overly demanding of everyone around them. Things must be 100% perfect or I might lose my job!! I remember a manager asking me one day ‘how was it going’ and I told him there were 3 of us on a project that was extremely stressful – his reply? “Good” This implies to me that if I’m not stressed, I am not doing my job and that to me is counter productive.

The media tells you one day the housing crisis is over and then 2 days later report how horrible it still is. The same with the job market, one day it’s rebounding and the very next day, unemployment numbers are horrible. Look at your own situation – is your job safe? If not, do you have a back up plan? Is there something else you’ve always wanted to do?

So – let’s look this fear and anger in the face – name it – replace it with hope.

To begin this journey (if you so choose), I am asking you to do a couple of things:

Wake up a few minutes earlier – Don’t immediately start thinking about all that you have to do that day – start to train your mind on what is good in your life and be truly thankful for it. Then stretch with all your might, everything you can stretch including your mind :>} You will climb out of the bed feeling so much better.

As you go through the day, take the time to notice things of beauty. These can be simple things – a butterfly, a bird singing or just flying by, a flower, a woman’s pretty earings and the list goes on. We are surrounded constantly with beauty, all we have to do is notice it.

When you are in your home, start to become aware of the things you have and be grateful for them. I have things that vividly remind me of the friend that gave it to me.  If I have to move food around in the refrigerator to make room for the new groceries, I am grateful for that food. If my son has all of his friends over, I am grateful they are with me and safe.  The more you are grateful, the more you will see to be grateful for.

If we all practiced this just a few days a week just think of all the positive energy we will be releasing. I also promise that if you practice this a few times, you will feel so much better that you will want to do it more often.

Peace – love and hope to all of you!