Blessings to you on Peace Tuesday!

Take a moment right now, as you are reading this, to imagine Peace in your life, in your community and on the planet. Can you see what has shifted? Can you hear it, feel it and even smell it? There! You focused on Peace and your work is complete for now!

I have a gift to share with you this Peace Tuesday. It is a list, from Sarah Susanka's book the not so big life, titled :

The Symptoms of Inner Peace.

*You tend to think and act spontaneously (respond from love and trust), rather than react from fear from the past.
*You have the unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
*You have lost interest in judging others.
*You have lost interest in judging YOU!
*You have lost interest in interpreting the actions of others, and simply allow them.
*You have lost interest in conflict.
*You have lost the ability to worry.
*You experience frequent, compelling episodes of appreciation.
*You feel contended and connected to others and to nature.
*You experience frequent attacks of smiling
*You are willing to allow your life, let things happen, rather than control and make things happen.
*You are increasingly susceptible to the love extended by others as well as the compelling urge to extend love to everyone.
*I would add - You love your life. Really love it -regardless of the circumstances! And you are convinced that anything is possible - expecially Peace.

Lastly, on this loveliest of lovely days I invite you to visit the PRI website and checkout the story about the Sparrow Quartet from the U.S. and their recent visit to Tibet. They play bluegrass, jazz and other types of music with banjo's etc. And wherever they played the Tibetans broke out in song and music of their own. They all sang and jammed together as a spontaneous expression of life's joy. They talked and sang and even though they did not understand each other's language, they all understood each other through the singular music of the soul, of the heart. It's a moving account of what's possible.

This story reminded me of the period of Glasnost just before the Soviet Union fell. We had massive cultural exchanges with the Soviets, exchanging music and dance troupes and finding our common language. What if our armies consisted of artists, musicians, play-writes, performers? What if they traveled to the countries we feared were working against us? What if we welcomed there artists, hosted them in our homes and learned about their lives, challenges and fears?

I wonder if this isn't the way to tear down barriers and build trust without destroying the innocent. I wonder if this isn't a powerful and non violent way to empower sane and thoughtful people to take charge of their lives and their countries. We sent many artists to Bosnia to help their people heal from a horrendous war. And when the Taliban fell in Afghanistan the first thing reported was the sound of previously banned music in the streets! Art, music are powerful tools in service of Peace, personal Peace and societal Peace. Can anyone share about artistic exchanges in other parts of the world where war is ongoing? I am inspired by the though of it.

Love,

Darlene

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