September Peace

Being kind to others, and being kind to the Earth are actions for self-care!

The best weather of the year!

September is a huge leap from August. It is the end of meteorological summer, and after too much extreme weather, fires, flooding and a sad pandemic, many are ready to hope for a better month. Actions for Happiness ideas are below.

September has some of the best weather of the year, and it is a perfect time to be outside watching for changes and appreciating the beauty of each day. It is a big month for bird and butterfly migration.

The Actions for Happiness group has ideas below for September self-care. Biking or walking are the ultimate in self-care. I challenge you to have outside time every day in September.

Take three breaths for peace

We can’t control the violent weather, but we can work for peace. On your daily walks, I hope you will take three deep breaths for Peace. Collective actions for peace are good self-care. If we all imagine a more peaceful world the earth will be become more peaceful and more kind.

Ideas for September self-care:

I wish you a September of peace and kindness!

Marvelous May

Cheers for May! May is the queen of months. We celebrate mothers, observe baby wildlife, outdoor time and new beginnings.

I challenge you to spend a minimum of 10 minutes outside everyday during May. Take deep breaths and look for amazing changes in nature. Watch the trees change, listen and watch for birds, and look for new butterflies. Sit in the sun, go for a walk, turn off your phone and listen for the sounds of May. Appreciate the intense beauty of our Earth. Search for peace, smile and enjoy.

Don’t miss a minute of May flowers

Write a poem:

Cheers for new May life

Watch for blooms and butterflies

A black cloud rumbles

Actions for Happiness Calendar for May

Kindness Matters

World Kindness Day 2020

A smile is an international way to show kindness. Smile today!

World Kindness Day is a global day that promotes the importance of being kind to each other, to yourself, and to the world. This day, celebrated on November 13 of each year, has the purpose is to help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. This understanding has the power to bridge the gap between nations.

Take A Breath For George

george floyd — Take a breath for George, for peace, and a breath for justice.

This Juneteenth is a rare moment for all of us to proclaim in one voice that Black Lives Matter and that we won’t tolerate anything less than justice for all Black lives.

“I implore all of us to take a breath for justice, to take a breath for peace, to take a breath for our country and to take a breath for George.” Benjamin Crump

I hope we are all indeed breathing deeply, always, but especially now. Breath clears the body of toxins; breath renews. The Israelites under Pharaoh could not hear the words of hope offered by Moses because of “kotzer ruah” — shortness of breath (Exodus 6:9). They could not breathe, so they could not hear, so they could not hope. We have a choice. I hope we are appreciating the miracle of breath — how it sustains life, how it brings calm, how it creates spaciousness of spirit, so that each of us can act with compassion and wisdom, with intention and focus.
For all those suffering in this pandemic, and for George Floyd of blessed memory, let us all indeed take a breath for justice, for peace, for our country and for life itself.
Rabbi Shosh Dworsky, St. Paul in a letter to the editor, https://www.startribune.com/

Iranian People, “We are friends!”

Percepolis — Ancient Persepolis, a woman approached me telling me she loved me because I was so kind.

Two years ago I was lucky to be one of the few Americans allowed to visit Iran. We were there for 8 days visiting cultural and historical places as well as meeting many Iranian people. After 40 years of hearing what an awful country Iran is, we were thrilled to find a friendly engaging people. They are interested in, and like the American people. Everywhere we went we were approached by the charming people. The wanted to talk to us and find out how we liked their country and how we liked their food. Many times a day they would approach us offering us candy, asking to take pictures of us, wanting to engage with us. They seemed to find pleasure that we also had unpleasant leaders, and we often heard, “We both have bad governments, but we the people, we are friends!” Our guide said the Iranian people never chose this government, the Ayatollah was able to take over during the Iranian Revolution.

Soldiers in Iran — These soldiers wanted me to take their picture.

Tehran river bed — A dry river bed in the heart of Tehran. Water is more valuable in Iran than oil.

These friendly beautiful people do not deserve harmful sanctions or a war between silly reckless men! Read more at, The Iranian people are not the enemy

https://health4earth.com/2018/01/31/iranian-women-and-the-hijab/

Thought for the Day

kindness, spread it now!

Happy December! Kindness is the light of happiness and of life!

There are many ways to spread kindness, and I like many of the Kindness Calendars on the internet. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Friday, December 1, Do something good for the earth, go plastic free, go for a walk and smile at the people you meet.

Saturday, December 2, How can you help someone who needs help? Give rides to the grocery store, babysit, bring someone a dinner.

Sunday, December 3, List three things you are thankful for.

Monday, December 4, National Sock Day: Donate socks to a homeless shelter.

Tuesday, December 5, Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while, an aunt or uncle, cousin or friend.

Wednesday, December 6, Listen to people with eye contact.

Thursday, December 7, Be thankful for grandfathers and fathers who fought in WWII, and donate money to AmnestyInternational

A good deed a day!

Check out the Kindness calendar

It is always possible to be kind!

Together for Peace

2017 Peace Day Theme: Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All.

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
#jointogether

Peace is a goal to which we strive, a state of existence that we want to live in, a way of acting and a feeling of respect. When we work to live peacefully with others it shows the concern and love we express for them. In some cultures, people greet one another by using the word “peace” in their greetings, “peace be to you.” Native Americans when they met with people from another tribe, or when “foreigners” came to them respectfully, the “peace pipe” was shared among those assembled. From early times, cultures have recognized symbols for peace. Voices Education

Today, do something kind for our earth!

Brothers and sisters all are we
Let me walk with my brother and sister
In perfect harmony !

Peace and Good Will to All

“In the New Year, may your right hand always be stretched out in friendship and never in want.” Celtic

“May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.” Celtic

Holiday blessings and wishes for all; Celtic and Irish blessings for the holiday season:

Six blocks of Christmas luminaries in my neighborhood

“Nollaig Faoi Shean Is Faoi Mhaise Dhuit” (Gaelic)

(pronounced) Knoll-ig f’wee haan ss f’wee shun-ah g-with
(translation) (A Christmas of Happiness and Joy to you)
(old Irish Saying)

“May you be blessed

With the spirit of the season, which is peace,

The gladness of the season, which is hope,

And the heart of the season, which is love.”

Irish blessing.

New Year Celtic Blessing

Slàinte maith, h-uile latha, na chi ‘snach fhaic!
Gun cuireadh do chupa thairis le slainte agus sonas.
A h-uile là sona dhuibh ‘s gun là idir dona dhuib.
Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!

Good health, every day, whether I see you or not!
May your cup overflow with health and happiness.
May all your days be happy ones.
Happy New Year!

Veteran’s Day 2016

I believe in peace and non-violence. The veterans I have known are awesome. The sacrifice of time and lives is more one can imagine. I have gratitude for what all the veterans of the world have sacrificed for our freedoms and hopes for a better world.
In Canada it is Remembrance Day. This is a post from an amazing college freshman, Sherina Harris. Read her here.

My biggest problem with some of our elected officials is they do not understand the implications of their actions. They don’t respect the lives and families of those in our military when they send them into combat. Leadership, Compromise, negotiations, and PEACE wins the day for me.

Below is from a Startribune.com newsletter by Patrick Coolican:

Veterans Day. A letter home from Sgt. Michael A. DiRaimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, Calif.:

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003: Life is so precious. Living day by day in good health or just happiness is probably what makes me happy right now. I try not to think that what I do makes me happy. Just being alive, having a wonderful family, good friends, watching the sunrise morning after morning that’s what makes me feel good. I think people take their lives for granted. Some just haven’t hit that part of their lives where they stop and say, “I am such a lucky person to have the life that I have.”

DiRaimondo, who planned to be a paramedic firefighter, was killed on Jan. 8, 2004, when his helicopter was shot down while on a medical evacuation mission near Fallujah.

“Keep them in your thoughts and learn about America’s current and potential conflicts. In a democracy, ultimately it’s the citizens who make decisions about war.” Patrick Coolican