At Bloggers for Peace, the Monthly Peace Challenge: Mad Men is to create something that conveys the message of peace: an ad, a slogan, a short film, a poem, a song perhaps.
My modest contribution is this slogan, “Peace is Possible”. It might seem simplistic at first, but it has a powerful message, and that is, don’t give up hope and always think positively. Perhaps the slogan should be “Peace is Positively Possible”.
“Peace is Possible”, by Caron Eastgate Dann: I put together this makeshift peace sign out of bits and bobs—buttons, brooches, earrings (I always knew those buttons you get in tiny plastic packets when you buy something new would come in handy one day).
I was reminded how important hope is for achieving goals by my friend Bryan Patterson on his Faithworks blog this week.
Without hope, we may as well give up. With hope, there is still possibility.
Kozo at Bloggers for Peace has discussed (in the post linked above) the idea that in achieving a goal, it is important to affirm what you want, such as “Peace is Possible”, instead of making a negative statement, such as “No war”.
By envisioning what you want, you can work towards it. This reminded me of something that happened to me 10 years ago. I was working as the branch editor of a magazine, and was particularly unhappy with the way the job had progressed under a new supervisor. However, I felt trapped because I had a big mortgage and needed the regular income.
My friend, who is now a clinical psychologist, asked me what was wrong, and I explained. She said, “So, what do you want?”. I told her I wanted to become a freelance journalist and work for myself from home while continuing my PhD studies. She said that because I already knew what I wanted, I had won half the battle. “Now, you just have to work out how to get there,” she said.
I decided to sell my expensive house for a cheaper one in the same area, thereby halving my mortgage. I could now afford to become a freelance and casual journalist, and did so for about four years, until my PhD was complete and I became a university lecturer.
So, if we know what we want (peace), I reckon we have won half the battle. Now, if we could only work out how to get there…
The Crayon Files 
How brilliant that you found peace and direction in what some would see as turmoil. Of course inner peace is not a political movement or a dogma. It is about living mindfully in the present moment. Sometimes it is about letting go of the past and almost always about not worrying about the future.
Yes, that is true about living for the present, Bryan—and very Buddhist of you! If we learn to live in peace in the present,the future will take care of itself. And yes, it’s useless to worry about the past, though we should learn some lessons from it. (Most of the time, we don’t seem to, however).
I love all aspects of this post, Caron. Your post is like your peace sign–beautiful as a whole and beautiful in each and every piece.
I love “Peace is positively possible.” Let’s use the power of positive thinking to create a peaceful world.
I also love your story about how you created what you desired. We know we can manifest reality, so “what’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding”?
Thank you for this beautiful post. {{{Hugs}}} Kozo
{{{Hugs}}} back at you, Kozo and thank you for reading.
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Putting on my FB Peace.. hope you don’t mind 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/ChoosePeace22
A pleasure, Tracie.
The best thing in live is that a person can do the job he wants to do and loves doing it. The biggest freedom is being in charge of your own free choices, fulfilling your dreams.
So dare to go after your dreams and do take risks, but never do something which you would later regret or have to shame for.
always keep hope in the good things and share love and peace with others around you and far away.
How beautifully said, and my sentiments exactly.