Why an International Day of Peace?

by Peggy Sue Skipper
Co-Founder of The New Era Times

HOUSTON, TX--When Rita and I were developing this paper I got the idea that a Day of Peace would fit right in with our goals and what this newspaper was going to be all about. I imagined a countdown clock on the home page of the paper ticking away to the appointed day. As we batted that idea around someone told us that the United Nations had beaten us to the punch. Imagine that!
     Sure enough a little research proved that to be true and we just tagged on to their already designated day—September 21, 2010. While we are all for helping make changes in the world, we certainly have no desire to reinvent a perfectly good wheel that we can just add our energy to, and that is what we did. If you look on the home page you will see the countdown clock in action and a link to the UN International Day of Peace website.
     There is some great information on that website and I recommend you check it out. While you are at it, mark your calendar for Tuesday, September 21, 2010. Put some exclamation points after the notation and help us spread the word!
     Then, once you have it on your calendar do a few practice run days between now and then spreading the “concept of world peace”. The concept is much easier for most of us to relate to than the reality is to accomplish. What does it really mean?
     The UN website gives some great information about global peace including: worldwide events with a way to find one in or around your area; a section on Peace Building 101; and even a worldwide cease fire for the duration of the day—now that is a good idea. Wonder if we, as a species, can really pull that off a worldwide ceasefire? Imagine the shift in the energy of the entire planet if we could truly have just one day with not one shot being fired anywhere in the world. Could we take that even farther and accomplish not one harsh word? Would we feel the energy shift if we could? I think so.
     Most of us are not in a position to make a decision about whether or not a shot is fired BUT we ALL have the power to make Peace happen in our own world, in our own bodies, minds and souls. That is really all we have control over and while we can invite others to join us we cannot make them participate.
     Here is a simple formula for having a Personal Day of Peace:

1. The night before set an intention to have a peaceful day when you wake up.
2. In the morning when you open your eyes, say to yourself, “Just for today I will live in Peace.”
3. During the day stay aware of your surroundings and how you are acting and reacting in them.
4. If you feel anger or frustration or any other emotion that is really Fear in disguise, say to yourself, “Just for today go away—I will not allow you to use me as a portal to this world. Today I am Peace.”
5. Smile often and easily throughout the day—even if you don’t feel much like it. A smile can change your energy and the energy of those around you and this creates fertile ground for Peace to live and grow.

     That’s it, a very simple formula. Now I said simple—not easy—and while those two words are often interchangeable they do have different connotations in this situation. That is why I suggest a trial run on this Day of Peace thing so you can find out how much of a challenge it will be to truly live in Peace for 24-hours. Can you do it? Will you try? How different might our world be if every individual did—just for one day—choose to live in peace?
     If you take up the challenge, you just may find it is a better way to live all the time.
 
                                                                                  —30—