My Peace SanctuaryWelcoming Peace

Here's a simple way to grow inner peace: Set 3 alarms on your phone for morning, afternoon and evening. Choose beautiful, peaceful sounds for the alarms. When an alarm sounds, stop whatever you are doing. (If you can't stop at that moment, stop as soon as you can.) Place your hands on your heart, close your eyes. Blow out, breathe in. Continue breathing slowly, mindfully until you feel peaceful. Then silently affirm:

I choose peace now.
My peace does not require anyone else to do anything.
Peace is mine any time I choose to welcome it.

What is your peace status? Are you peaceful? Do you wish to be peaceful? Fortunately, we do not depend on anyone else for peace. It's our responsibility. No one else can hand peace to us or create it for us. It is ours to nurture through wanting it more than wanting to be right, to be clever, or to be important among other temptations of our busy minds. Peace means being the kindness, compassion, and love we came to be. With commitment and time, we can become radiating centers of tranquility, spreading peace by our very existence as have great souls such as Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King, and Thich Nhat Hanh and as the Dali Lama continues to do.

A silly visual popped into my imagination just now. It's of me standing over a three-year old who is in full tantrum glory on the floor, kicking, hollering, and flailing. The thought bubble over my head says: "Okay now, Gertrude, it's time for YOU to stop so I can be peaceful!" In the next scene, Gertrude and I are both in full tantrum glory because the other is not giving us what we want! Peace may not have a home in this mental cartoon, but it can, and shall, have a home in our hearts and minds as we continue to welcome and honor peace knowing we can, and shall, choose it whenever we are not peaceful.

This precious little Red-shouldered Hawk is perfect as a stand-in for a three-year old throwing a tantrum. If you have ever heard a baby bird calling for food, you know exactly what I mean. They are relentless in their expectation of food NOW! Like the sage, patient parents of this sweet little Hawk, may we be wise enough to recognize peace is not something the baby must or even can give us, but rather peace is something we can, and shall, welcome, choose and honor in our hearts and minds. Peace is ours the moment we decide we want it more than anything else.

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