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Sunday, August 26, 2012

PEACE




Living in peace is my choice.

Some of my life I have lived with drama and fed off it and been eaten alive by it. Some of my life I have lived in darkness, mentally incapable of pulling myself out and there is no peace there. Some of my life I have lived in sadness and longing. I don’t think I am unusual. I believe most people’s lives have all or most of these components if one lives long enough and endures each of them in order to move on to something else. Not always something better, but something else. Peace is hard to find if your mind is at war with your body. It is hard to find if your morals are at war with your desires. It is very hard to find if you are in pain either physically or mentally.

I have also lived much of my life in happiness and peace.

I have found now that acceptance is the basis for my own personal peace. It really is that simple for me. I live relatively physically pain free. I am blessed. I also live primarily mentally free of pain; again blessed. But I know that even when one or the other of these invades my life, it is temporary and if I can DO something to make it less painful, I do it. I just do it. If not, then I accept that I cannot fix or change it and I ACCEPT it. Truly and completely accept it. That means that I live WITH it. I do not live in spite of it or because of it. I live with it. I make it part of my thinking, part of my actions and accept that for this day, at least, I will have to live with pain of some kind. I will not allow it to control me or be what I am about; instead, I will live my life, my way with the pain in the background. If the pain keeps me from being as physical as I’d like to be, I’ll just be less physical until it passes. If it is mental pain that is trying to take me over, I will remind myself of all the blessings in my life, grieve or ache or whatever for a short time and then live with it. Live my life with smiles and laughter and love because the pain cannot take that away; it is who I am. I am happy, I laugh, I smile a lot and I enjoy life. This is how I have peace in my mind.

Peace in the world is possible, but highly unlikely because it requires people to be nonjudgmental and accept others as they are. Our own morals or beliefs will never be everyone’s and for many people that is unacceptable. Peace requires that be acceptable. I pray for world peace. I pray for war to be something in our history that my grandchildren would read about and understand that dying for a principle or dying to spread democracy may never again be necessary, but instead a lesson learned. Allowing others to live by their own standards and their own beliefs means we stop going to war to protect our freedom because no one will be trying to take it away. I know that is a pipe dream, but I continue.

Peace in my life means I cannot judge others. Is that difficult? It was. It isn’t now. I have come to understand that my beliefs work for me. I know that my moral conduct works for me. It isn’t necessary that everyone agree with me. I can completely love someone who believes nothing close to what I believe. I can love the person for who they are, not what they believe. I can respect someone who is on the complete opposite side of absolutely everything I think is right because that isn’t who they are, it’s what they believe. It is none of my business. I can discuss our differences without becoming defensive, or offensive. It’s good for me to hear both sides or all sides of a subject and I enjoy doing that, but I do not enjoy arguing or fighting or taking a stand or drawing a line in the sand or whatever, so I will often just bow out of a conversation if it is going that way. Religion, Politics or Morals are all subjects about which I have an opinion, but I will not engage in arguments to defend my thoughts. I simply respect the opposite view and move on to something else.  This is how I have peace in my life.

Besides praying for good health and happy thoughts, I also pray for everyone in my life to have peace of mind and a quiet heart. Know, my dear and precious readers, I wish this for each of you. 

The old hippy in my sends you peace and love!

Jo

38 comments:

  1. I have to agree 100% with you. I realized once that making peace a habit was a mind set I needed to practice. At first negative thoughts were like weeds in my flowers but like the weeds I plucked them and discarded them instead of looking at them and complaining they were there.

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    1. I cannot say I am completely weed free...but I don't let them grow wild!

      Thanks Grace.

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  2. "I will have to live with pain of some kind. I will not allow it to control me or be what I am about;" This is a lesson of life that I wish we could all understand at a young age. I have learned through experience to not let pain define me or steal my joy..but it is a life work isn' it?

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    1. It is exactly that, moment by moment and understanding that now and again you must allow yourself to just feel whatever it is and then start all over again with the peaceful life. It's all good and life is just meant to be happy, I think.

      Thank you Shelley.

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  3. I read it somewhere that "Make peace with your past so that it doesn't spoil your present". Indeed, until we once make peace with what has happened, and how we are.. we cannot embrace it to change it.

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    1. I am sorry to have missed this comment Hrishikesh...you were hiding in my spam folder!

      I could not agree more with making peace with one's past and what it has caused us to be or possibly not to be. Change happens only with personal honesty.

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  4. Jut o, you and I think so much alike. I love your thinking in this. I believe we must make a conscious effort everyday to make peace with the lot we are given in life and you do a wonderful job with it. As you know, my biggest struggle is with physical pain and limitations but I have made peace with the fact that that is my cross to bear and I will not let it ruin my life. (Hugs)

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    1. I know and I thought of you as I wrote this. You are an amazing woman who has your poop in a group and I think we both have 'things' that could make us just fall apart, but we both agree this life is way too short for that foolishness!
      Love you Kat...thanks. (((hugs back)))

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  5. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh THIS was a breath of fresh air..and yes....love you darlin!! MUAH

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    1. We all have things and choices. It's an easier life to just now your head and appreciate your life.
      Nature brings us home.

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    1. I know right? Our road to peace is very much the same.

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  7. Love the way you view peace!

    Kathy
    http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com

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    1. I don't so much view it as I strive to live it. Love stress free living.

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  8. Knowing me the way I know you do, you may be surprised to know that I have complete peace in my life. Like you, it hasn't always been so. The stress of my career stole a lot of peace at the time, but that stress was a quick dump upon retirement. While I suppose I look like the internet wild woman at times, it is my fun and I love it as long as I am not hurting others. However, sometimes others get hurt, but I blame that on their own feelings of offense, which is clearly not my problem. Even so and even while engaging in my internet controversies, I have total peace in my heart. Why? Because I don't judge others nor their beliefs, I (mostly) keep my mouth shut when feeling contentious and I laugh, laugh, laugh all day long. At the end of the day, I sleep sweet and pleasant dreams because just as I looked down on my naughty sleeping children with my heart full of love, I know the Lord looks down on me with the same love because while I am a naughty girl, my heart is pure and free of bitterness, envy, hate and the like. Parody is another story...

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    1. I am not at all surprised. You cannot be responsible for what other people think or how they react. I like straight shooters and I like the truth. I also like respect and I find those things in you. Nuff said about that!
      We agree on many things, the fact that I have opinions on politics which I prefer to keep to myself is a personal choice, not a comment on you or anyone else. It's a choice, that's all.
      I get very angry with people who do not show respect when discussing politics or any other subject and I just block them until I feel safe to carry on with their friendship.
      During this time, I have blocked all of my friends statuses that are being hateful or rude. I say tell me what you like about your candidate and stop telling me what you don't like about the other guy.

      If everyone would just do that, I wouldn't mind the political stuff at all. I am not going to change anyone's mind with my opinions or my fact sheets, so why in the world would I even bother to post it? I don't see any benefit. so I choose not to. Just me.

      I have total and complete respect for those who disagree with me and I just don't comment. It isn't hard. Really.

      LOL

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  9. Yes, peace is truly a choice, Jo and once we make that choice you wonder why we didn't make it earlier. Drama and unhappiness are just to draining for me and I avoid them.

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    1. For me, as well. Respect and acceptance. So simple.

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  10. I think inner peace is just as much a choice as happiness. Well said, kindred spirit.

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  11. Achieving inner peace may be attainable. Achieving world peace I think is many generations in the future, if at all. (For many reasons that I won't get into lest I start a blog in your comments.)

    I think you're right. Inner peace, is a choice and even a commitment. Would like to say that I'm committed to it each and everyday. I'd also like to say that my lawn is immaculate. But life goes on.....

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    1. I'd like to say that you are on the right road, but well, I just don't know! I am committed and I am determined to have a peaceful life and keep drama at bay. I like my life and each year it just gets better, mentally anyway!

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  12. I loved this, Jo. The older I get, the more of this is true for me as well.

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    1. I'm happy about that. Peace is so good and it most assuredly leads to happier days and more blissful hearts.

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  13. So beautifully said. I agree, peace, like happiness, is a choice.
    Thank you for your lovely writing.

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    1. A drama free life is your's for the choosing, that's my motto. And I choose it, for certain!

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  14. As always a pleasure to read and I couldn't have said it in a better way.

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    1. Thank you so very much. Just pulled you out of my spam folder...grrr.

      :-)

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  15. Well done as usual, Jo. Peace in the mind is hard for many, me because being bipolar means my mind is always traveling to the next trouble spot. I think aging helps one find that rare peace spot in the mind and we all get just a little wiser.

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    1. I think my peaceful mind has come not only with aging, but also with acceptance. I wish for you many more days of peace than trouble spots. Hugs and ♥ to my favorite pirate.

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  16. I hope someday I am as gracious as you. Thank you.

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    1. Steven, that is the sweetest thing you have ever said to me. Thank you, from my heart, I thank you. ♥

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  17. It is very hard to live without being judgmental or bring preconceived notions along with you. I admire you for having done that.

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    1. It isn't that hard...the golden rule applies...if you wish not to be judged, then judge not others. It's an easy way to live. And I think a good way.

      Thank you.

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  18. If I had read your post 4.5 years ago I would've said "No way", but now I so agree that acceptance is the key to peace. The serenity prayer often reminds me of this.

    Don't know why but the words of John Lennon's song came to mind as I read your post .. "Imagine all the people, living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you will join us and the world will be as one."

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    1. With age peace is easier to recognize. John Lennon's "Imagine" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard. Imagine...

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  19. Thanks for the peace and love, Jo! I love what you wrote. Lots of wisdom here!

    Peace truly can be a choice.

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    1. Thank you Linda. Not sure if it's wisdom or just the life I've lead teaching me to accept and be grateful. Move on. Dwelling in pain or despair only drains you and makes you old. No need. Nothing good comes from it. Drama be gone.

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