Pace is the Latin and Italian word for Peace. So, Pace to you on this Peace Tuesday, August 12, 2008.
Today is an opportunity to focus on Peace in some way because what we focus on expands. Appreciate Peace today wherever you create it, see or notice it, because what you appreciate grows or appreciates. Be Peace today and be amazed at how Peace shows up everywhere. That's how powerful you are!
I have been reading an informative book titled Wisdom for a Livable Planet by Carl McDaniel. I've been reading this book for six weeks! This is because each chapter focuses on a someone who has made a major contribution to current understanding of what it takes to live peacefully and sustainably, noting that the two are inextricably linked. And each chapter is loaded with references to several other notable books. So, I keep getting sidetracked by reading those books instead of finishing this one! I highly recommend this book as a great single source of information about what's happening on our planet regarding the economics and social advantages of sustainable living.
I'm currently "stuck" in chapter 7, reading about Herman Daly who is an economist who has bucked current economic thinking, and makes the case that local economies must be sustainable locally to be viable long term. Infinite economic growth is not sustainable. There are limits to what the planet and what societies can support, just as there are limits to what the human body can tolerate (think drugs, toxins, fat). People need to be able to grow their own food and supply most of their needs for the earth to sustain populations long term. I couldn't begin to paraphrase or represent his logic here so I recommend Herman Daly's book Beyond Growth or Chapter 7 of Wisdom for a Livable Planet to get the details.
Daly makes the point that war or social upheaval is most related to large scale poverty or large disparities between rich and poor. So, a way to work for Peace or ensure Peace in the future would be to do what many NGOs are focused on, which is to provide poor people across the globe the skills, knowledge and capital, through microfinance to create sustainable local economies.
Which brings me to a controversial notion I've hesitated to raise before. Call me chicken! The notion is that war is not the opposite of Peace and, stay with me here, war may be good for something - besides lining the pockets of Haliburton and Blackstone, I mean. Another way of looking at this is to ask the question we never ask, which is, "What is perfect about war"?
There, I've said it, or asked it! It strikes me that war, like anger and fist fighting among individuals, is an expensive though generally ineffective strategy for settling disagreements. So, what's perfect about it is that each time we have a war, it is a reminder that we need to develop other, less expensive, more effective and less destructive strategies for resolving disputes. In short we will keep having wars until human beings finally get the message that wars, as a rule, don't work. There is a case to be made that even World War II was avoidable, had we not punished the Germans and driven their people to look desperately for inspiration to the diseased mind of an anti semitic nutcase.
As humans we apparently need to keep seeing pictures of destroyed homes and families in order to work up the resolve to change the way we operate in the world. We didn't need to go to war in South Africa to end apartheid and we didn't need to fight a war with the Soviets to bring about some change in that country (I realize that Russia is a work in progress). War is not inevitable. Thinking war is inevitable makes war inevitable, a self fulfilling prophecy. And that thinking pushes countries to prepare for what they believe is inevitable, spending billions or more creating war tools. As we like to say in the coaching world, when all you have is a hammer (read war machine) everything looks like a nail (read international situation that needs fixing). Or, what we focus on expands. If our focus is the need to protect ourselves with a large military industrial complex, we are likely to find excuses to use it. President Eisenhower warned us about this!
On a lighter note, I just ordered myself a Peace flag, which I will fly on all national holidays and every Peace Tuesday. It's not that I'm not patriotic, I am. As a former member of the U.S. military I love this country, and I especially appreciate all of the Peaceful things it has done in the world. It's that I can no longer afford, and the planet can no longer afford, for me to be apathetic in the face of a growing need for Peace. And I believe that Peace in my life, my community, my country and the world better supports this country that war does. So, one small thing I can do is fly the world Peace flag. It is a beautiful rainbow flag (though the Wikipedia description is that it is different from the Gay pride flag because it includes an extra turquoise stripe!) and it has the word Peace, Pace or the word for Peace in any language.
So, Pace to you this Peace Tuesday. Take a moment or several moments to notice what you can do to make your life or even the world more Peaceful. As Mother Theresa might say, Peace may seem impossible, be Peace anyway.
Love,
Darlene
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Peace Tuesday - Perspective on World Peace and a Peace practice!
Hello fellow Peace enthusiasts!
I have two things for you this Peace Tuesday. The first is a brief look at systemic Peace in the world or peace trends. The second looks at a simple way to bring Peace into your life!
I found an informative website created by the Center for Systemic Peace. They gather information on war, the nature and location of conflict, and look at trends over time. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that in this blog because the graphs on this site are worth thousands of my words. And you will get the point quickly from looking at the pictures these graphs create.
So, go to http://members.aol.com/cspmgm/conflict.htm and you will see a broader picture of what's been happening in the world since 1950/1960, one that may balance the picture you get from your local newspaper or the evening news (yes, even The News Hour).
And this brings me to the second topic of this weeks blog. And that is how to bring Peace into your life. I am going to give you two practices to take on, practices I give my clients. Consider, as you take them on, that you just saved yourself some bucks by not hiring a coach!
The first practice is to avoid media, newspapers, tv or online news, all of Peace Tuesday! If you're feeling really bodacious you can extend that to days, weeks or months. "What, not read the paper? Are you nuts?" Yes, many people think I've completely lost my mind. And they are right. I've walked away from that portion of my mind that wasn't serving me and made a bee line for my heart, where I now spend as much time as possible! My mind was a jumble of shoulds, and don'ts, and what ifs and the source of great unrest until I stumbled into the Peace that comes from spending time in my heart.
Media is grist for the mill in your mind. You can still stay informed. I dare you to find out how! And I double dare you to take on this practice for as long as you can manage it. Notice what happens in your life when you stay away from media. You might think of yourself as a media-aholic, someone who can't go a day without knowing the details of every last thing President Bush did or Angelina Jolie did! What would your life be like without that?
The second practice is Buddhist based. And it's purpose is to have you let go of your attachment to doing, so that you can begin to experience your being, or who you are separate from what you do!
Sound like fun? The practice is: Go 1/2 speed for an hour, two hours, 1/2 day or all day. You can start with a day off if that seems less confronting. Or you can throw caution to the wind (I highly recommend that) and do it today on Peace Tuesday, or tomorrow, since this blog is going out a bit late (I apologize)! Go 1/2 speed and then notice what happens to your thoughts as you do this. Notice how you seem to automatically return to your previous speed. Catch yourself speeding!
You will need some structures to support you in remembering this practice. I recommend you wear a rubber band on your wrist to snap when you find yourself back at your normal speed. Enroll others in reminding you to go 1/2 speed. Pay them a nickel if they catch you speeding! Or put post it notes around to remind you to "Go 1/2 speed". Or put money in your Peace Pot, money you can donate to an organization promoting Peace!
For me the benefits of slowing down are that I am more in touch with my body, my emotions and my thoughts. And I am more in touch with other people, noticing their facial expressions, their speed, their language, tone, etc. I am simply more present, awake and aware.
"But I won't get stuff done," you cry! Well, give it a go and see. I can tell you that I am more productive now that I was when I took on this practice. I stop myself from doing things quickly and then having to redo them. I get more pleasure from the doing of them also and that's a lovely bonus. And really, that's the point. If we speed through life trying to do as much as possible, we miss the experience of what we do. We miss opportunities to connect with ourselves and with others and to experience events deeply.
So, practice slowing down, noticing if the gradient is too steep and lowering it. Oh, and if you notice that you keep forgetting to do it, that's perfect. It's part of the process of beginning something right? You start by forgetting, then you learn to remember, then you experience the benefits of this new thing and then the behavior begins to reinforce itself. It feels good to slow down. It is Peaceful. And it affects those around you, just as seeing everyone else speeding on the freeway invites you to match their speed. You don't want to be left behind, do you?
Well, slowing down, going half speed (or, if you're really adventurous, try going NO speed!), invites others to notice what you are doing, see that you are peaceful doing this, and want to join you in that lovely space.
Thank you to all of you who have left comments on the blog. I am inspired by the feedback I am getting and welcome more of it. I also welcome contributions and love giving credit to new thoughts and ideas. And for those of you who don't want to receive my blog mailing, please let me know. I will love you and remove you from my list.
Love,
Darlene
I have two things for you this Peace Tuesday. The first is a brief look at systemic Peace in the world or peace trends. The second looks at a simple way to bring Peace into your life!
I found an informative website created by the Center for Systemic Peace. They gather information on war, the nature and location of conflict, and look at trends over time. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that in this blog because the graphs on this site are worth thousands of my words. And you will get the point quickly from looking at the pictures these graphs create.
So, go to http://members.aol.com/cspmgm/conflict.htm and you will see a broader picture of what's been happening in the world since 1950/1960, one that may balance the picture you get from your local newspaper or the evening news (yes, even The News Hour).
And this brings me to the second topic of this weeks blog. And that is how to bring Peace into your life. I am going to give you two practices to take on, practices I give my clients. Consider, as you take them on, that you just saved yourself some bucks by not hiring a coach!
The first practice is to avoid media, newspapers, tv or online news, all of Peace Tuesday! If you're feeling really bodacious you can extend that to days, weeks or months. "What, not read the paper? Are you nuts?" Yes, many people think I've completely lost my mind. And they are right. I've walked away from that portion of my mind that wasn't serving me and made a bee line for my heart, where I now spend as much time as possible! My mind was a jumble of shoulds, and don'ts, and what ifs and the source of great unrest until I stumbled into the Peace that comes from spending time in my heart.
Media is grist for the mill in your mind. You can still stay informed. I dare you to find out how! And I double dare you to take on this practice for as long as you can manage it. Notice what happens in your life when you stay away from media. You might think of yourself as a media-aholic, someone who can't go a day without knowing the details of every last thing President Bush did or Angelina Jolie did! What would your life be like without that?
The second practice is Buddhist based. And it's purpose is to have you let go of your attachment to doing, so that you can begin to experience your being, or who you are separate from what you do!
Sound like fun? The practice is: Go 1/2 speed for an hour, two hours, 1/2 day or all day. You can start with a day off if that seems less confronting. Or you can throw caution to the wind (I highly recommend that) and do it today on Peace Tuesday, or tomorrow, since this blog is going out a bit late (I apologize)! Go 1/2 speed and then notice what happens to your thoughts as you do this. Notice how you seem to automatically return to your previous speed. Catch yourself speeding!
You will need some structures to support you in remembering this practice. I recommend you wear a rubber band on your wrist to snap when you find yourself back at your normal speed. Enroll others in reminding you to go 1/2 speed. Pay them a nickel if they catch you speeding! Or put post it notes around to remind you to "Go 1/2 speed". Or put money in your Peace Pot, money you can donate to an organization promoting Peace!
For me the benefits of slowing down are that I am more in touch with my body, my emotions and my thoughts. And I am more in touch with other people, noticing their facial expressions, their speed, their language, tone, etc. I am simply more present, awake and aware.
"But I won't get stuff done," you cry! Well, give it a go and see. I can tell you that I am more productive now that I was when I took on this practice. I stop myself from doing things quickly and then having to redo them. I get more pleasure from the doing of them also and that's a lovely bonus. And really, that's the point. If we speed through life trying to do as much as possible, we miss the experience of what we do. We miss opportunities to connect with ourselves and with others and to experience events deeply.
So, practice slowing down, noticing if the gradient is too steep and lowering it. Oh, and if you notice that you keep forgetting to do it, that's perfect. It's part of the process of beginning something right? You start by forgetting, then you learn to remember, then you experience the benefits of this new thing and then the behavior begins to reinforce itself. It feels good to slow down. It is Peaceful. And it affects those around you, just as seeing everyone else speeding on the freeway invites you to match their speed. You don't want to be left behind, do you?
Well, slowing down, going half speed (or, if you're really adventurous, try going NO speed!), invites others to notice what you are doing, see that you are peaceful doing this, and want to join you in that lovely space.
Thank you to all of you who have left comments on the blog. I am inspired by the feedback I am getting and welcome more of it. I also welcome contributions and love giving credit to new thoughts and ideas. And for those of you who don't want to receive my blog mailing, please let me know. I will love you and remove you from my list.
Love,
Darlene
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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
P.S. If you do not want to receive this blog on Tuesdays, simply write me a note in the comments section below. I will remove you from the mailing list and I will love you anyway!
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
P.S. If you do not want to receive this blog on Tuesdays, simply write me a note in the comments section below. I will remove you from the mailing list and I will love you anyway!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
It's Peace Tuesday!
This day is your opportunity to celebrate Peace, to be Peace, to offer Peace and bring Peace to your life, to the lives of others and to the world. You can bring little piece of Peace or a big, whopping chunk of it, whatever. You get to choose!
I have a Peace offering for you today. I had the privilege of hosting a guest from Africa this weekend who has dedicated her life to working for Peace in her country and on the planet. I hosted Awa Ndiaye from Senegal and was honored to attend a dinner at which women from around the world met, all of them dedicated to bringing Peace and prosperity to their countries.
They were all participants in the Global Women's Leadership Network at the University of Santa Clara. School of Business. Check them out at www.scu.edu/business/gwln/ I heard stories from all over the third world about women creating their own project or working for NGOs (non governmental organizations) to transform the lives of poor women through education, environmental protection and microfinance.
So, please know that there are dedicated women, intelligent, well educated and trained, working with intention and purpose, to transform their countries and transform the economic status of the poorest women so there can be Peace and prosperity for all in the world. I encourage you to check out the website and see a few of the beautiful faces I saw this weekend. I was completely inspired by the possibility that these women represent for our planet. They are up to nothing less than transformation - transforming individuals, environments and governments, joyfully, patiently and lovingly. I am still walking on air having heard their inspiring personal stories and what they have accomplished. As one of the women blessed our dinner she asked that "we all love each other and know Peace". That said it all.
And if that's not enough inspiration for this Peace Tuesday, I invite you all to visit the website for the American Friend's Service Committee. They have been around as an organization working for peace for eons. Originally established by the Quakers, but now with many members of various faiths and philosophies, they publish an electronic newsletter covering their many projects for Peace around the world. I don't know about you, but it supports me to remain committed to Peace if I know that others are also committed to it! So, check them out at www.afsc.org. While you are there you can sign up for updates or the newsletter. AND you can make a contribution if you are so inspired!
Which brings me to a new way to make a difference and support Peace today. And it's something I did. this morning. It was absolutely painless! You can go to any nonprofit website and make a donation in someone's name, as a birthday gift, a wedding gift, an anniversary gift. Everyone I know has so much stuff they hold garage sales and then give stuff away. They do this annually! We are blessed with more material riches than we really need to be happy and satisfied. What is missing for many of my friends and family, is deep satisfaction and connection that comes from giving and being of service. So, from now on I am giving them the deeply satisfying gift of a donation in their name to an organization working toward Peace in the world! And that's what they are getting for Christmas as well. No more stuff to throw out, try to sell or give away in 5 years. Instead they get the gift of making a difference in one of the many places where $25.00 will make an enormous difference.
So, consider taking on my new practice! Give gifts of donations to worthy causes, at least to those folks who would appreciate you doing so, and who already live in abundance. You can even give the gift of a pledge to match other donations, if you want to play a really big game. I knew someone who did that for a friend's wedding. Instead of giving them a $300.00 kitchen appliance, they donated money to an environmental organization to match gifts given by other invitees!
Lastly, I always leave you with a book or video recommendation. The book I recommend this week is the not so big life by Sarah Susanka (the small type in the title is on purpose). She is a coach and an architect and writes about designing your life as you would a house, with sufficient or abundant room for what you need to be satisfied and inspired, but not so much that your house and your life is overwhelmed and unworkable. AND I recommend you go to TED.com for inspiring videos. Check out Ben Zander talking about what it takes to be inspired OR view the video of Jill Bolte Taylor talk about the stroke she had and now it confirmed her sense that our physical separation is an illusion, a function of how our brains function.
If you are receiving this blog it is because I love you and intend to contribute to Peace in your life and mine. If you do not want to receive this blog (I promise I will love you anyway) please reply to me at darbat@earthlink.net or leave a comment in the section titled "comments" at the end of the blog.
Love,
Darlene
This day is your opportunity to celebrate Peace, to be Peace, to offer Peace and bring Peace to your life, to the lives of others and to the world. You can bring little piece of Peace or a big, whopping chunk of it, whatever. You get to choose!
I have a Peace offering for you today. I had the privilege of hosting a guest from Africa this weekend who has dedicated her life to working for Peace in her country and on the planet. I hosted Awa Ndiaye from Senegal and was honored to attend a dinner at which women from around the world met, all of them dedicated to bringing Peace and prosperity to their countries.
They were all participants in the Global Women's Leadership Network at the University of Santa Clara. School of Business. Check them out at www.scu.edu/business/gwln/ I heard stories from all over the third world about women creating their own project or working for NGOs (non governmental organizations) to transform the lives of poor women through education, environmental protection and microfinance.
So, please know that there are dedicated women, intelligent, well educated and trained, working with intention and purpose, to transform their countries and transform the economic status of the poorest women so there can be Peace and prosperity for all in the world. I encourage you to check out the website and see a few of the beautiful faces I saw this weekend. I was completely inspired by the possibility that these women represent for our planet. They are up to nothing less than transformation - transforming individuals, environments and governments, joyfully, patiently and lovingly. I am still walking on air having heard their inspiring personal stories and what they have accomplished. As one of the women blessed our dinner she asked that "we all love each other and know Peace". That said it all.
And if that's not enough inspiration for this Peace Tuesday, I invite you all to visit the website for the American Friend's Service Committee. They have been around as an organization working for peace for eons. Originally established by the Quakers, but now with many members of various faiths and philosophies, they publish an electronic newsletter covering their many projects for Peace around the world. I don't know about you, but it supports me to remain committed to Peace if I know that others are also committed to it! So, check them out at www.afsc.org. While you are there you can sign up for updates or the newsletter. AND you can make a contribution if you are so inspired!
Which brings me to a new way to make a difference and support Peace today. And it's something I did. this morning. It was absolutely painless! You can go to any nonprofit website and make a donation in someone's name, as a birthday gift, a wedding gift, an anniversary gift. Everyone I know has so much stuff they hold garage sales and then give stuff away. They do this annually! We are blessed with more material riches than we really need to be happy and satisfied. What is missing for many of my friends and family, is deep satisfaction and connection that comes from giving and being of service. So, from now on I am giving them the deeply satisfying gift of a donation in their name to an organization working toward Peace in the world! And that's what they are getting for Christmas as well. No more stuff to throw out, try to sell or give away in 5 years. Instead they get the gift of making a difference in one of the many places where $25.00 will make an enormous difference.
So, consider taking on my new practice! Give gifts of donations to worthy causes, at least to those folks who would appreciate you doing so, and who already live in abundance. You can even give the gift of a pledge to match other donations, if you want to play a really big game. I knew someone who did that for a friend's wedding. Instead of giving them a $300.00 kitchen appliance, they donated money to an environmental organization to match gifts given by other invitees!
Lastly, I always leave you with a book or video recommendation. The book I recommend this week is the not so big life by Sarah Susanka (the small type in the title is on purpose). She is a coach and an architect and writes about designing your life as you would a house, with sufficient or abundant room for what you need to be satisfied and inspired, but not so much that your house and your life is overwhelmed and unworkable. AND I recommend you go to TED.com for inspiring videos. Check out Ben Zander talking about what it takes to be inspired OR view the video of Jill Bolte Taylor talk about the stroke she had and now it confirmed her sense that our physical separation is an illusion, a function of how our brains function.
If you are receiving this blog it is because I love you and intend to contribute to Peace in your life and mine. If you do not want to receive this blog (I promise I will love you anyway) please reply to me at darbat@earthlink.net or leave a comment in the section titled "comments" at the end of the blog.
Love,
Darlene
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
It's Peace Tuesday!
The purpose of this blog is to have people focus on Peace each Tuesday! They can focus for a moment, several moments or all day. They can meditate on it or take a small, medium or large action for Peace. They can look to see how they could bring more Peace into their lives, and by doing so, bring more Peace into the world! This last sentence is really the point. I believe that world Peace begins with each human being making a commitment to Peace in their own lives FIRST. You can look at my first blog for a full explanation of what I'm up to with this blog.
Did you know that the U.S. government funds something called the United States Institute for Peace (USIP)? Well it does, or we do! It works internationally bringing people in conflict together to talk in order to avoid war or physical conflict. It's philosophy is that international peace is possible and that conflicts can be managed, examined, reduced and eventually eliminated. And it just broke ground on a new headquarters in D.C. on the mall near several war memorials and it will house a public education center, on the national mall near several of our war memorials. How fitting that we will have a Peace Center in the midst of war memorials!
There is also an amazing organization called The National Peace Foundation, founded by Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers 26 years ago, working to get our government to have a focus for world Peace. The Peace Foundation's mission is to rid the world of nuclear weapons and educate children as a way to expand Peace in the world. And there are several U.S. universities, UC Irvine, UC San Diego who work with grants t0 study and further the cause of Peace. I'm thrilled and moved that we have even a small part of our government bueuracracy focused on Peace.
I also want to clue you into a local teacher, Nesreen Khashan who teaches an on line global studies course in Peace at Mission College in San Jose! She was one of 17 community college teacher who went to Washington to a USIP conference recently to learn creative ways to teach peace.
So, our federal government has a Peace focus in the form of the USIP. And above that the United Nations was formed to mediate and prevent conflict, and so it also has a Peace focus. Yahoo! What's missing though, is a local focus, at the state, county, city, individual level. I say that if Peace isn't showing up in the world, it is because everyone isn't taking it on, isn't focused on it or willing to be responsible for it, even in small ways.
That's the purpose of this blog. To have you and me and your Aunt Tilly and Uncle Phillip focus on Peace and see how we can further Peace in our lives, our community, our country and our planet.
Here are some suggestions for this week.
1. If you haven't already done this, I recommend you go to www.tut.com/about_nftu.htm and check out this site. It's Thoughts From the Universe and when you sign up you get daily messages that inspire you.
2.Another site is www.zaadz.com where people interested in personal and community transformation can hook up.
3. I'm reading a great book called Wisdom for a Liveable Planet by Carl McDaniel, which gathers stories of inspiring people across this country who work to create a sustainable, and Peaceful, environment for us to live in.
Lastly, I leave you with a Buddhist definition of compassion. Compassion involves the willingness to feel all pain, universal pain so as to let fear SOFTEN US, rather than harden us into resistance. It is the recognition that anyone's darkness is ours. It seems to me that this is the place to start personally being more peaceful. If we can recognize and stay or sit with our fear and the fear we see in the world, we are less likely to react by running away or getting angry. When I meet people who are angry, particularly people who are angry with me, what there is for me to do is be with their anger (making sure that I am physically safe) and allow it. When I resist it, insist that they are wrong or stupid, I kill Peace for both of us. I can allow people's anger without agreeing that they are right and without changing course.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It isn't enough to talk about Peace". It may not be enough, however I would add that thinking about it, focusing on it and talking about it ALOT is a great place to begin. Then comes passion, commitment and action. What's one thing you will do for Peace today?
Love,
Darlene
It's Peace Tuesday!
The purpose of this blog is to have people focus on Peace each Tuesday! They can focus for a moment, several moments or all day. They can meditate on it or take a small, medium or large action for Peace. They can look to see how they could bring more Peace into their lives, and by doing so, bring more Peace into the world! This last sentence is really the point. I believe that world Peace begins with each human being making a commitment to Peace in their own lives FIRST. You can look at my first blog for a full explanation of what I'm up to with this blog.
Did you know that the U.S. government funds something called the United States Institute for Peace (USIP)? Well it does, or we do! It works internationally bringing people in conflict together to talk in order to avoid war or physical conflict. It's philosophy is that international peace is possible and that conflicts can be managed, examined, reduced and eventually eliminated. And it just broke ground on a new headquarters in D.C. on the mall near several war memorials and it will house a public education center, on the national mall near several of our war memorials. How fitting that we will have a Peace Center in the midst of war memorials!
There is also an amazing organization called The National Peace Foundation, founded by Rosalynn Carter and Betty Bumpers 26 years ago, working to get our government to have a focus for world Peace. The Peace Foundation's mission is to rid the world of nuclear weapons and educate children as a way to expand Peace in the world. And there are several U.S. universities, UC Irvine, UC San Diego who work with grants t0 study and further the cause of Peace. I'm thrilled and moved that we have even a small part of our government bueuracracy focused on Peace.
I also want to clue you into a local teacher, Nesreen Khashan who teaches an on line global studies course in Peace at Mission College in San Jose! She was one of 17 community college teacher who went to Washington to a USIP conference recently to learn creative ways to teach peace.
So, our federal government has a Peace focus in the form of the USIP. And above that the United Nations was formed to mediate and prevent conflict, and so it also has a Peace focus. Yahoo! What's missing though, is a local focus, at the state, county, city, individual level. I say that if Peace isn't showing up in the world, it is because everyone isn't taking it on, isn't focused on it or willing to be responsible for it, even in small ways.
That's the purpose of this blog. To have you and me and your Aunt Tilly and Uncle Phillip focus on Peace and see how we can further Peace in our lives, our community, our country and our planet.
Here are some suggestions for this week.
1. If you haven't already done this, I recommend you go to www.tut.com/about_nftu.htm and check out this site. It's Thoughts From the Universe and when you sign up you get daily messages that inspire you.
2.Another site is www.zaadz.com where people interested in personal and community transformation can hook up.
3. I'm reading a great book called Wisdom for a Liveable Planet by Carl McDaniel, which gathers stories of inspiring people across this country who work to create a sustainable, and Peaceful, environment for us to live in.
Lastly, I leave you with a Buddhist definition of compassion. Compassion involves the willingness to feel all pain, universal pain so as to let fear SOFTEN US, rather than harden us into resistance. It is the recognition that anyone's darkness is ours. It seems to me that this is the place to start personally being more peaceful. If we can recognize and stay or sit with our fear and the fear we see in the world, we are less likely to react by running away or getting angry. When I meet people who are angry, particularly people who are angry with me, what there is for me to do is be with their anger (making sure that I am physically safe) and allow it. When I resist it, insist that they are wrong or stupid, I kill Peace for both of us. I can allow people's anger without agreeing that they are right and without changing course.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It isn't enough to talk about Peace". It may not be enough, however I would add that thinking about it, focusing on it and talking about it ALOT is a great place to begin. Then comes passion, commitment and action. What's one thing you will do for Peace today?
Love,
Darlene
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
There are lots of different ways to be in relationship to Peace. We can be impatient for it, we can be hopeless about it, we can be angry that isn't present in our lives and in the world. I have been all of those things at some point in my life. Perhaps because I turn 60 this year, or perhaps as a result of years of meditating, I see now that how we relate to Peace is crucial, maybe the most crucial thing. Another way to say this is, our context or who we be in relationship to Peace is decisive.
When I am impatient for peace I resist all the places in my life and in the world where Peace is absent. I'm totally absorbed in and focused on "what shouldn't be". When I am angry about war, my anger sucks Peace from my life and the lives of everyone I touch. I get my anger, my angst all over everyone else. When I am hopeless about Peace ever being possible, I become a victim of my own thoughts and I spend my time looking for proof that Peace can't happen. And I can find a ton of that!
My practice this week, and I offer it to anyone reading, is to find a powerful way to relate to Peace. The metaphor I have chosen to represent my relationship with it this week is "dancing with Peace". I imagine Peace is a dance partner I have chosen (if this sounds a bit wacky hang in there with me please!).
And what I know about dance, about me and about partnering, is that love and patience is required. I need to learn new steps, learn how to execute them with someone else who may be learning too, or, horror, more proficient than I. I need to give up feeling foolish about my lack of skill in order to keep dancing. I need to have a bigger commitment to dancing than I do to focusing on my missteps. I have to love and appreciate my partner and TRUST that the dance can be amazing, given time and practice. And a graceful dance, skillfully done is worth this investment, this commitment. I know I appreciate it when I see others who have done so. O.K. I'm a secret fan of those ballroom dance competitions on PBS! And I don't see many skillful angry, impatient or hopeless dancers.
So, I am committed this week to relating to Peace as a dance, to dancing with Peace metaphorically, to being committed to producing Peace in my life through patience, love and trust, and like all skills, to improve with practice. I invite you to join me in this dance. Please look in your life and see who you can love into Peace (without compromising your best self), what choices you can make from Peace today, where you can trust a bit more than you have. Then notice what shifts. And keep the gradient low please. Begin where you are. And a recommendation for this might be to list all of the ways you already demonstrate your commitment to Peace; what are you already doing (recycling, driving an fuel efficient car, eating organic food, contributing to Oxfam or similar organizations, meditating, slowing down, caring for a friend or relative). Start by appreciating the Peace that is already present in your life and expand from there.
Lastly, I have a book recommendation. It's The Not So Big Life by Sarah Susanka. She's an architect who employs coaching principals to get her clients to discern clearly how their physical space works best for them, to see how they can design a space and a life they love.
It's Peace Tuesday! Who will you be to create Peace in your life and in the world today? Who are you already being?
Love,
Darlene
There are lots of different ways to be in relationship to Peace. We can be impatient for it, we can be hopeless about it, we can be angry that isn't present in our lives and in the world. I have been all of those things at some point in my life. Perhaps because I turn 60 this year, or perhaps as a result of years of meditating, I see now that how we relate to Peace is crucial, maybe the most crucial thing. Another way to say this is, our context or who we be in relationship to Peace is decisive.
When I am impatient for peace I resist all the places in my life and in the world where Peace is absent. I'm totally absorbed in and focused on "what shouldn't be". When I am angry about war, my anger sucks Peace from my life and the lives of everyone I touch. I get my anger, my angst all over everyone else. When I am hopeless about Peace ever being possible, I become a victim of my own thoughts and I spend my time looking for proof that Peace can't happen. And I can find a ton of that!
My practice this week, and I offer it to anyone reading, is to find a powerful way to relate to Peace. The metaphor I have chosen to represent my relationship with it this week is "dancing with Peace". I imagine Peace is a dance partner I have chosen (if this sounds a bit wacky hang in there with me please!).
And what I know about dance, about me and about partnering, is that love and patience is required. I need to learn new steps, learn how to execute them with someone else who may be learning too, or, horror, more proficient than I. I need to give up feeling foolish about my lack of skill in order to keep dancing. I need to have a bigger commitment to dancing than I do to focusing on my missteps. I have to love and appreciate my partner and TRUST that the dance can be amazing, given time and practice. And a graceful dance, skillfully done is worth this investment, this commitment. I know I appreciate it when I see others who have done so. O.K. I'm a secret fan of those ballroom dance competitions on PBS! And I don't see many skillful angry, impatient or hopeless dancers.
So, I am committed this week to relating to Peace as a dance, to dancing with Peace metaphorically, to being committed to producing Peace in my life through patience, love and trust, and like all skills, to improve with practice. I invite you to join me in this dance. Please look in your life and see who you can love into Peace (without compromising your best self), what choices you can make from Peace today, where you can trust a bit more than you have. Then notice what shifts. And keep the gradient low please. Begin where you are. And a recommendation for this might be to list all of the ways you already demonstrate your commitment to Peace; what are you already doing (recycling, driving an fuel efficient car, eating organic food, contributing to Oxfam or similar organizations, meditating, slowing down, caring for a friend or relative). Start by appreciating the Peace that is already present in your life and expand from there.
Lastly, I have a book recommendation. It's The Not So Big Life by Sarah Susanka. She's an architect who employs coaching principals to get her clients to discern clearly how their physical space works best for them, to see how they can design a space and a life they love.
It's Peace Tuesday! Who will you be to create Peace in your life and in the world today? Who are you already being?
Love,
Darlene
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." This is a Persian proverb that begins the first chapter of the book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortinson and Oliver Relin, a book about a young mountain climber fulfilling a promise to build a school in rural norther Pakistan, as a way of honoring his sister. I'm reading this book to remind myself that it's possible to be ridiculously committed to a cause and achieve the impossible. I've read several such books and recommend also Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and Banker to the Poor by Muhammed Younis, about the beginning of micro-finance in Pakistan.
What does doing the impossible have to do with Peace? Well, it strikes me that one source of restlessness and disatisfaction in our culture and in our world is the inability to trust in possibility, to trust that life will be o.k., that we can be satisfied and fulfilled, the inability to trust that Peace is possible. And I see that he world is full of evidence that people can make a difference, can be joyful and satisfied and fulfilled without, dare I say it, all the material trappings that our culture insists are required for the task. So, reading about people like Greg Mortinson, reminds me that anything is possible. It reminds me that Peace is possible. All that is required is our commitment, some action, and our trust that it is possible.
What if personal peace, peaceful relationships and peace among nations were that simple? How might it look? Can you imagine that? So, that's the first invitation I have for you, the first practice for you to take on: to imagine what it would be like if you felt peaceful about your own life, if your relationships were peaceful, and what it would look like for the world to be at peace?
Imagine what would be possible for you and for the planet. How would it be different? What would you be doing differently? How would what you say change? What would you be hearing in your daily life? How might the news be different? Imagine this as vividly as possible and write down what you imagine if you like. Or create a visual that reminds you of what you've imagined! Or find a piece of music that reminds you of what you created.
The next step might be to focus on your vision of Peace (yours, others and the world's) regularly, daily OR ON PEACE TUESDAY if you can. Just for a minute if that's all you can give it, or longer if you can. If you have a meditative, contemplative or prayer practice, your could focus on this vision in your practice.
If that does not appeal to you, consider sending a contribution to the Central Asia Institute at www.ikat.org so Greg Mortinson can continue to transform Pakistan in a peaceful way building schools. If you have children and you'd like to get them involved contact penniesforpeace.org and find out how they can.
Right now it appears quite dark for the cause of Peace on our planet. But looks can be deceptive, right? In coaching we say that "the gold is in the dark", indicating that we must often look in the uncomfortable places in our lives, in our feelings, in our minds, in order to discern our truth. It may also be that the current darkness in the world today is an opportunity for us to notice just how far we've gone astray - astray from our commitment to love and care for ourselves, each other and our home, planet earth. It's an opportunity to turn on the light of Peace. Begin with you/me. Please begin by doing one thing each Tuesday.
Love,
Darlene
P.S. I signed my first posting Lowejo. It's a pseudonym that represents the essence of who I am. I'll explain this to anyone who is interested.
What does doing the impossible have to do with Peace? Well, it strikes me that one source of restlessness and disatisfaction in our culture and in our world is the inability to trust in possibility, to trust that life will be o.k., that we can be satisfied and fulfilled, the inability to trust that Peace is possible. And I see that he world is full of evidence that people can make a difference, can be joyful and satisfied and fulfilled without, dare I say it, all the material trappings that our culture insists are required for the task. So, reading about people like Greg Mortinson, reminds me that anything is possible. It reminds me that Peace is possible. All that is required is our commitment, some action, and our trust that it is possible.
What if personal peace, peaceful relationships and peace among nations were that simple? How might it look? Can you imagine that? So, that's the first invitation I have for you, the first practice for you to take on: to imagine what it would be like if you felt peaceful about your own life, if your relationships were peaceful, and what it would look like for the world to be at peace?
Imagine what would be possible for you and for the planet. How would it be different? What would you be doing differently? How would what you say change? What would you be hearing in your daily life? How might the news be different? Imagine this as vividly as possible and write down what you imagine if you like. Or create a visual that reminds you of what you've imagined! Or find a piece of music that reminds you of what you created.
The next step might be to focus on your vision of Peace (yours, others and the world's) regularly, daily OR ON PEACE TUESDAY if you can. Just for a minute if that's all you can give it, or longer if you can. If you have a meditative, contemplative or prayer practice, your could focus on this vision in your practice.
If that does not appeal to you, consider sending a contribution to the Central Asia Institute at www.ikat.org so Greg Mortinson can continue to transform Pakistan in a peaceful way building schools. If you have children and you'd like to get them involved contact penniesforpeace.org and find out how they can.
Right now it appears quite dark for the cause of Peace on our planet. But looks can be deceptive, right? In coaching we say that "the gold is in the dark", indicating that we must often look in the uncomfortable places in our lives, in our feelings, in our minds, in order to discern our truth. It may also be that the current darkness in the world today is an opportunity for us to notice just how far we've gone astray - astray from our commitment to love and care for ourselves, each other and our home, planet earth. It's an opportunity to turn on the light of Peace. Begin with you/me. Please begin by doing one thing each Tuesday.
Love,
Darlene
P.S. I signed my first posting Lowejo. It's a pseudonym that represents the essence of who I am. I'll explain this to anyone who is interested.
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