Working toward Peace – TT #8

Thanks to Goofy Girl for the header graphic!

1. Use your special talents for a more harmonious world – I am a great letter writer. I love doing it and people have commented that a letter from me is like listening to me talk (as long as they read it fast since I tend to speak quickly!). In addition to offering my talents to my immediate family for various and sundry thank you notes, I volunteer with Chemo Angels and now Senior Angels as well as adopting a Soldier through this program. They all involve writing letters, sending cards and gifts to someone with no expectation of reciprocity. You give because you want to. I love doing it and just being able to use my gift to brighten someone’s day is reward enough for me.

2. Be generous with your smiles. Working retail is a very hard job. I find that working with the general public wears me out. So, as a consumer, I try to make any interaction I have with someone in a store a pleasant one. I smile, ask “how are you?” because I mean it, and make eye contact. And if I make them feel even a little bit better about doing that job, they will radiate that energy outward and get even more in return. (I know. I sound like Miss Goody 2 Shoes. Sorry)

3. Commit daily acts of kindness. In my morning prayers, I ask my angels and guides to put in front of me anyone or any situation that needs what I have to give that day. Some days, nothing seems to happen. Other days, like today where I saw a car accident (no one was hurt) and immediately got out and took care of the young girl driver (who was shaking and scared), it’s quite obvious. Each day I ask for the opportunity to be of service. And I am always given them.

4. Respect the Earth – I take such good care of my birdies and squirrels and trees. I even take care of the bugs that fall into the pool and can’t get out. (Unless they’ve moved on to another plane of existence. Then, I can’t help them!) The earth knows and loves me back. We are buddies. I recycle, try not to drive around wasting gas and pick up trash where needed. I do indeed respect Mother Earth.

5. Demand honesty from your government. – anyone who reads this blog knows that I am all for this. Yes, I know some things cannot be shared in the interest of national security, but this admin has made doing that into an art form! If ya ain’t got nothing to hide, what’s the big deal in being transparent? But when everything you say and do is a lie to cover up things you shouldn’t have been doing, well, you’ve lost any chance for respect at that point. From me, from us all. This country deserves better than what we have. I pray that we receive it.

6. Think about consequences – good point. I’m an empath and cannot help but feeeel things. It’s easy and really second nature for me to take into account what someone else may be thinking or feeling at any time. When I speak, I really think about how it may affect another person. And while there are plenty of times I’d like to shoot my mouth off, I don’t. I wasn’t always this way and sometimes it really interferes with my ability to speak my mind but mostly, I am glad I have this filter because I’m not running around inadvertantly hurting people with my words. (Am I?)

7. Play with a child. Now, y’all know me and MissaEmma are thisclose! I do so love that little girl. I could squeeze her to death. As it is, she is the only and rightful owner of the beloved “Bitty Paw of Love” signal, passed down from Lauren. (All this is code, okay? Just swing with it!) Playing with her makes my heart swell and that helps me to share that with others. Plus, it gives her parents some down time and who doesn’t need that with a five year old?? :)

8. Acknowledge someone’s good qualities – one of the things I like doing is championing others. Lots of people don’t toot their own horns (and they should) and some do (who shouldn’t!). No matter the job, I would always acknowledge people publicly when they really shined. Everyone likes to feel validated. If we got an email from a customer saying this person or that person did a great job, I always made sure the supervisors saw it as well as the CEO (since he knew me from various projects). It does me NO harm in helping shine the light on another. (And! it sends out those nice luvvy energy vibes out to the Uni!)

9. Join an organization working for peace – as you can see by the tag on my sidebar, I support Code Pink as well as the Crawford Peace House who supported and helped sponsor Cindy Sheehan’s month long vigil last August in Crawford. I’ve donated money and time to candidates and organizations dedicated to peaceful negotiations rather than military action. I know there’s more I can do. (Flashes peace sign at ya)

10. Help someone – If I see a mom struggling with a door and a baby carriage, I’m right there to open it for her. My cousin was in the middle of her Master’s program when Lauren’s cancer recurred. I helped her get to a stopping point in the class so she could get some credit for it instead of having to drop it (and yes, it involved me writing a paper for her. I got an “A” thankyouverymuch!). I’m especially helpful at my mom’s nursing home, talking to the other residents and often wheeling them down the hallway or something. This is a feel-good thing for me.

11. Think for yourself – Many of the things I now understand about the truths in my life came from experience, rather than from a book or a classroom or a pundit. And I know that they are right for me. You can pontificate all you want on there being no angels or God or an afterlife. I would disagree because of what I’ve experienced. I will respect your feelings and thoughts, but I would not buy into them nor would I expect you to do the same with me. What you experience shapes you and your perspective. I honor that.

12. Clear your mind – Anyone else have that perpetually noisy head? Jeepers. Some days I want to scream to myself “Just shut up!” I am the Ruminator! So, clearing my mind is often a herculean task for me. And I know that the ability to be still is key to moving to the next level in my spiritual work. Yesterday (before the mondo storms came) I sat on NG’s nifty floaty thingy in the pool and just stared up at the sky. And realized after a time that my head wasn’t going 500 miles a minute and I was at peace. A clear mind helps you stay in balance and not sweat the petty things (nor pet the sweaty things nyuk nyuk!).

And finally ….

13. Plant a tree – We wanted to find a way to honor Lauren here at our house, where she spent lots of fun days with us in the pool. Duty and I decided we would plant a tree as a way of remembering those days and her. NG found a tiny seedling and we’ve nurtured it in a smallish pot and I’ve fed it with Prill water and love. It’s growing beautifully and when it’s time, we will plant it in our yard and I will put some lovely yellow flowers around it. Even if we leave this house at some point, Lauren’s energy and the love we have for her remains here to bring joy to the next owner.