Dear Friend in Peace,

At a time when there are many unsettling distractions: unkind words, calls for discrimination, and invitations to hate, it is easy to become agitated and overwhelmed. As people of peace, it is ours to be gentle with ourselves and others, to stand up for democracy and “Liberty and Justice for all,” and to cultivate peace within our hearts, minds, and bodies.

The first step in cultivating peace is to recognize when we are not peaceful, decide that’s not what we want and take time out to switch our energy from fear to peace. The keys to living in peace are the willingness to be peaceful and to return to peace as often as needed.

Since we know our minds are willing to offer us scary stories and promote fear, we must turn away from our thoughts and instead connect to our wise, loving and peaceful hearts which know and speak only love. The process is simple and can be done anywhere:

• Place a hand or both hands on your heart and breathe out the fear, the agitation. Release that gunk that is giving you a headache by literally blowing it away. Then say to yourself: “I refuse to allow fear a home in my body.”
• Keeping your hand(s) on your heart, slowly breathe in peace, loving kindness, and compassion for yourself. Say to yourself: “I welcome peace into every cell in my body.”
• Breathe out fear and agitation. – Blow them away.
• Breathe in peace and loving kindness into every cell in your body.
• Continue until you feel calm and have returned to your true nature of peace.

While the above is an essential part of cultivating peace, there is another equally important component which is to have a daily practice that fills your heart and brings you home to peace. Just as we each have unique ways of speaking, walking, seeing, and thinking, our ways of returning to peace are individual and can vary from day to day. For me, Mother Nature is my nurture, home, and place of peace. For you it might be as well or it might be meditation, walking, running, singing, dancing, swimming, rollerblading, doing a puzzle, a sport, or some other activity that fills your heart with joy and peace.

Find the peace practice(s) that nourish you and make them a part of your daily routine. The quality of our lives depends on the choices we make. Offer yourself the daily blessing of cultivating peace.

I look forward to hearing what peace practice(s) make your heart sing and bring you home to peace. Mine are Mother Nature, walking, playing the gong, bowls, and didgeridoo; meditation, playing in the garden, watching clouds, listening to beautiful music, and sitting in silence with a friend.

Thank you for choosing peace in your thoughts, words, and actions.
Yours in peace and love always,
Donna

P.S.  Please pass on the peace by sharing this post with friends and family. They can join this mailing list, by writing to me at donnadday@gmail.com