Creating Peace

Dear friends,

This week has been a doozie.  Between school starting, new schedules and lots of  turmoil in the world I've been doing a lot of processing.

"Peace" photo by Sammie Gautreaux (11)

This week Atlanta made national/international news with the treating of two Ebola patients.  I am in full support of them receiving treatment from the best facilities in the world and trust in Emory and the CDC especially since I have some dear friends who are brilliant that work there.  I do have to admit that it's a little disconcerting realizing that people I love are doing some dangerous, yet necessary, work.  I was doing a little research and realized how "pretty" the pictures of the virus were - it looked to me like a music note.  So this morning for my DCP I played with that and a quote I love from Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman to win the award in two different fields (physics and chemistry).

DCP - 8/8/14

This week we also dealt with local tragedy.  On Wednesday, a home on the other side of our new neighborhood was invaded and a dad was killed, and a mom and an 8 year old child injured. Here is an article for more info- Duluth Home Invasion.  It was shocking.  Duluth was just ranked one of the safest places to live Georgia and I know that to be true.  I also know so pretty crazy stuff goes on in our world in all walks of life and across all spectrums.  

Combine that with all that is happening on a global level in the Middle East, Hawaii and I get the feeling that the world is going crazy all around us. 

Dogwood blooms in the Spring

I've been seeking peace.

I seek peace through comforting routines.  This week I've been diligent about getting up before the sun to do a gentle yoga routine and meditate and pray.  I've also been doing my Daily Creative Practice, daily (ha - I know that sounds repetitive but hey sometimes it's a weekly creative practice).

I went over and hung out with my new neighbor and her precious three boys for a quick conversation filled with lots of legos and "look at what I did!"

I called several friends I hadn't talked to in a while, my sister and my parents and checked in to say, "I love you."

I consciously stopped to take deep breaths and give gratitude for the amazing life I have.

And I play.  I seek out opportunities to have fun in this crazy world.  Sammie, Joe and I played Munchkin last night, Alex and I played Bananagrams.  I do a little bit (and sometimes a lot) of Interplay everyday. I also seek out beauty wherever I go - for me that's art and flowers :)

One of my all time favorite photos from Amelia Island at Sunset

Today I'm participating in the Global Meditation for peace led by Deepak Chopra at noon my time.  I hope you will consider joining me - taking a moment to imagine peace and feel peace inside ourselves.  I do believe this makes a difference.

“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”

― Lao Tzu

Wrapping you around with infinite love and peace,

Christine  

P.s. A special shout out of thanks for the Peace Ritual that my friend Audrey Galex organized and my friend +Hallelujah Truth participated in yesterday.

 

Stones and rocks placed in a peace sign at the Atlanta Beltline entrance @ 10th & Monroe representing places of conflict in our communities and around the world. Ruth Schowalter holds her stones, before setting them on the Earth with a wish for peace.  Photo by Audrey Galex.