Peace is possible

Note: This post is an edited version* of a group email that I sent out on Christmas day, 2019.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you’re relaxing and enjoying some extra time with family and friends. 

Sorry, I’m not generally inclined to sending group messages but wanted to reach out to as many of you as possible - including those friends with whom I haven’t communicated in a while. 

Okay, so I’ll get right to it . . . I’ve been feeling the urge to spread a message of peace. And, no, not just because it’s the holiday season. It’s been more about finding a way to counter my feelings of frustration with “breaking news” stories that invariably portray our world as a dangerous place.

It’s easy to see how people become skeptical about the prospect of peace when they’re continually bombarded with media messages about corrupt politicians, threats of war, and environmental disaster. But should we allow our hearts to harden? Are we willing to relegate the realization of peace to lofty aspirations?

But wait . . . I didn’t intend a soapbox speech or rant about the misguided agendas forced upon us by our so-called leaders and corporate media . As I noted already, my goal is to spread a message of peace. If anything, I’m hoping to make you feel a little lighter this holiday season.

I recently read a quote by John Lennon that got me thinking about peace in a different way. Check it out:

“Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” 

-John Lennon

nd tha

It’s pretty obvious what JL was getting at here, wouldn’t you say? Hoping and wishing for peace simply isn’t enough. If we want to realize peace, we need to actually do something about it. Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” strikes me in the same way. Any hope for change requires our full participation.

Getting back to Lennon’s quote, It was that last line especially - “And something you give away” - that not only changed my thinking but served as a catalyst for action. Anyway, here’s a little background about how I decided to put peace into practice.

Several years ago, I composed a piece of music that was intended to be melodically and harmonically simple - a song that a mother might hum or sing while rocking her baby to sleep. A direct expression of a mother’s love for her child by way of peaceful song. A lullaby. 

And now I’d like to “give away” some music I composed. I’d like to share this gift with you in the hope that you’ll experience feelings of peace while listening to “Lullaby.”  

Before signing off, I’d like you to consider this question: Is there something you can give away? It doesn’t have to be an original song or even anything art-related. Perhaps that “something” could be sharing time with a family member, sitting down for a face-to-face with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or maybe volunteering for a cause you believe in.

Choosing a more active role in helping others won’t stop the Washington insiders and media giants from trying to hijack your attention but it will allow you to experience a higher level of inner peace. And isn’t that what we’re all after?

Here’s wishing you a peaceful and prosperous 2020!

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* I first thought about making some changes to the original (group) email after receiving some feedback from a friend whose opinion I value. I also decided to add a couple concluding paragraphs that I’m hoping will encourage the reader’s participation.