Exploring Ways To Make Peace Within
Ourselves & the World

Women In Black Denver, Colorado

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Why Do I Write This Blog???

The easiest (and probably the most honest) answer to that question is: I don't know. It all started in the summer of 2005, when I went to Crawford, Texas ( a.k.a. the home of the prez's ranch, a.k.a. the home of Camp Casey) to support Cindy Sheehan. I wanted the world to know that, contrary to what one could read in the mainstream media, the peace movement was alive and well and large numbers of Americans did not support the war in Iraq. I wanted people to know that thousands of Americans were willing to travel to Texas and tolerate the heat, humidity, and bugs in order to support a grieving mother whose new purpose was to shine a light on the lies that led to the war and to bring home our troops so that no other mother would have to know the pain that she felt.

Over time, this blog has become more of an exploration of who I am, my spirituality, and how life works. I love life's complexities, exploring the shades of gray. I want to, as Rainier Maria Rilke said,

"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer."

Maybe my blog is just one big question about what is needed in order for people to take the time to love and cherish each other and our earth. Maybe someday, I will "live along some distant day into the answer."

In the meantime, thank you for joining me on my journey. I welcome you to share yours with me

 

Monday, October 15, 2007

Be the Change...


Do you think that you affect the world by being who you are and doing what you do?

I do. I think that we all add to this soup that we call the world. There are a few unsavory flavors, but my oh my, the broth is scrumptious and most of the ingredients are heavenly. Even those unsavory bits seem to bring out the best in other parts.

Thinking about Gandhi when he said "we must be the change we wish to see in the world", I contemplate what I want to see.

I would like a world where:

  • people care about each other and about all living beings
  • we don't call each other names or do anything intentionally to cause pain to others - physical or psychological
  • we know that there is enough - and we don't need to have more than enough while others live in need
  • we take care of the earth
  • there is joy and singing and dancing and celebrating
  • we know there is time to go slowly enough to listen to each other, to be kind, to notice what is going on within and without

So Gandhi calls me to be these qualities that I want in the world. I can't make anyone else do it (at least I've been unsuccessful so far) - and I can be a challenging study even for myself.

It's time to get dancin'!



"I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him."
- Booker T. Washington

"Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music."
- George Carlin

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posted by Carol at 9:59 AM

2 Comments:

Blogger RubyShooZ said...

Thanks Carol for being you. I think we might "make" people change more than we might think. Many times I've heard people saying things (to other people mostly) like, "Wow, what you said way back when had a profound difference on my life." I truly believe that all we can do is lead by example and if we're not doing it - it's harder for others to know what to do - or how to act, etc.

Peace today.

4:44 AM  
Blogger Carol said...

Ms rubyshooz,

I agree 100%. It has taken me awhile, but I have truly realized that I want to BE the change I wish for - instead of being the critical person who wants others to be different.

The Ram Dass/Thich Nhat Hanh video that you posted reinforced that so beautifully. A nice reminder...

Peace & gratitude...

8:19 AM  

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