Young and carefree.  I understand.  That is how I was…. when I was younger… and…… welll…. a little more carefree.  By that I mean,  I didn’t have many philosophical beliefs.  I really didn’t have spiritual beliefs either.  Oh sure, I went to church, but I was just saying the words.  I never really thought much about much…. except for being young and having fun.  I didn’t keep up with who was running our country, or who was trying to.  I had no big aspirations, or any strong convictions.

And then, we learn.  We gain years.  Life experiences.  Bumps in the road… and moments in the sun.  As a result…. there are a few things I have come to believe, in my life.

Peace Baby.  Striving to find peace within ourselves and to live in peace with others is the most important thing we can do in life. I really don’t think anything else even comes close.

Here is the thing.  Deep down inside each one of us…. is this ultimate wish to live in peace.  Whether we realize it or not.  Everybody wants to be happy, I think.  And… when we have peace inside our hearts and our souls…  this inner peace is where the happiness resides.

The popular phrase right now.. is “mindfulness”… but call it what you want.   Living. Being Awake.  Being Aware. Living in the Moment.  When we pay attention to life, we can begin.  Our beginning… that first step… is to strive diligently towards your own inner peace….  and to live with compassion.  To love others, and have an understanding of others.  When we work toward peace with others.. we begin to know it.

It just brings me calm to think about it.

This is not to say that we won’t encounter those “difficult” people in our lives.  Some call them Enemies.  I call them Crampy Creatures.

I do believe we can grow more from these testy people…. than we can from most other experiences. We are sometimes tested…that is for sure.  Our compassion, patience, and understanding are all held up to the light in these interactions.

So we use our good.  Our good judgement, and our good hearts.

When we welcome these Crusty Companions with compassion, love, and understanding…. our real greatness comes shining through.  In the end… we find peace. I believe this to be true.

I have known great peacekeepers.  Not many, but a couple.  One can just feel  it when they are near.  There is and essence of good… and it is apparent.  It brings calm.  And… …. well…. peace.

Walk in peace.  And then we find our way… to do what we do best in life.

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.  —  Albert Einstein

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.  —  Buddha