PEACE LIST
About a decade ago, I was trying to find peace. I had recently had a miscarriage and realized
if I was going to start a family, I needed a break from the intensity of my
fast-paced life. It was easy to slow
down the work schedule and the globe-trotting; however, my passion for justice
and fairness in everything from interpersonal to global kept me fired-up. I compiled a list of ideas to bring calm and
comfort: a peace list. The ideas have been taken from stories, music,
people and experiences. I picked up an
old, but special book last night, and my Peace List fell out. I smiled as I read the simplicity of the
words. Peace truly is quite simple. The 10 ideas (not in any particular order):
- How you were raised is an explanation not an excuse.
- Try to look at it from the other person’s perspective.
- Don’t take things personally. People act because of their own wounds—empathize with them.
- Validate others when they do good things.
- Relax and breathe.
- Material things can be replaced.
- It’s OK to not have control. The only things you can control are your actions and reactions.
- If someone does not listen, try explaining in a different way instead of getting angry.
- Laugh.
- Love.
I used to read this list everyday. It did help me calm my mind and my soul. Today, though, I find something glaringly
missing from the Peace List. In the
words of Yoko Beck, in her book Everyday
Zen, “Trust in things being as they
are.” Peace!
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