I'm holding my hand out, hoping it will reach you.
Giving joy only works when people accept it, when people make a place for it.
You can choose to hold onto anger all day or let it sit on a shelf and look for better things.
I'm hoping you find that happiness here. I'm holding my hand out, hoping you will take it.
I've sent out 20 peace poetry postcards so far, just a few more to go. My mind is looking for peace messages constantly. I've received ten in return. The exchange of peace messages is happening and it is a worldwide event. That's one bit of good news for today.
There is an old fable about about our good and bad sides. We each have those sides to us. Every day we can think about what makes us angry and negative possibilities or we can think about people who work to make our lives better and potential positive outcomes. Which one will define us?
Like in the story, the one that lives and prospers is the one you feed; the one you give your time to; the one you pay attention to; the one you allow to rule your life.
Here's the story I'm referring to:
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued,
“The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
I choose to look for good things, to keep putting into my good things jar. I choose to look for activities to enjoy with friends. I choose to look for beauty when I go for my daily walks. I choose to enjoy color and form and create new works of art. I choose to plan healthy meals with variety. I choose to sing in the shower.
I had many choices of what to do when I came home from my walk today. I could have started my taxes. I could have finished my last peace poem. I could have pulled out art supplies and started creating something new for next month's Art in the Barn project. I could have made some hot cocoa and sat in front of the fireplace with my current fantasy novel. I could have played some old pop songs on my keyboard. I could have put music on my wireless speaker and danced in the living room. I could have planned out my peace poetry reading for St Patrick's Day at the Whatcom Art Center.
But I chose you. I chose to reach out once again because that is important. It is important to keep that hand held out.
That is how we make peace happen. That is how we help spread joy in the world.
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