Robert Browning once said, "Without love, our earth is a tomb." Can you disagree? When you look at the world, what do you see? War. Terrorism. Starvation. Hate. I see a lot of hate. If we ever want this world to change, if we ever want the world to be a better place for our children and their children, then we've got to stop this now.
We live in a society where people feel like they are too small to make a difference, but that has never been true. The problem is that we don't believe in ourselves. The Civil Rights Movement was made up of people just like you and me. The Arab Spring revolutions were made up of people just like you and me. The American Revolution was made up of people just like you and me. All of the major revolutions in history started with people just like you and me. Peace starts with you and me.
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
It starts out simple. It starts out by you and me setting an example. It's as easy as doing good for others. It's as easy as showing we care, even if they're a total stranger. It's about taking a minute out of our day to smile at someone or compliment them. It's as easy as showing people respect, no matter who they are or what they look like or what they believe in. It's as easy as forgiving others and even yourself. It's as easy as finding love.
"The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers." - Thich Naht Hanh
It doesn't take a lot to show someone love. It may seem like something so little, but just taking the time to listen to someone could mean saving their life. A simple "I care about you." A simple act of compassion. You've probably read those stories where a stranger talked someone standing on a bridge out of committing suicide. Those are real stories. You can do that, too. You can impact someone's life in so many ways just by showing compassion.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -- Martin Luther King Jr.
This is something we tend to forget in today's society. We are taught to do to others as they have done to us. But that's wrong. We will never get anywhere doing that. The people who are the meanest are the ones who need kindness the most. The people who are hateful are the ones who have never felt the warmness of love. And if we cannot show them these things, then who can? And it can be hard, I know. There's a reason Gandhi once said, "A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave." Be brave like I know you are.
"Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line." -- Lucille Ball
You've probably heard that one before, but it's the truth. This is the most important part of life -- to love yourself. If you do not love yourself, then you will never be able to love anything else. Everyone has things they dislike about themselves, and that's OK. We are not perfect. If we were, life would be kind of boring because we'd have nothing to do. Embrace your flaws. Love your flaws. Flaunt your flaws. Love yourself enough not to care about what anyone thinks. And then show the rest of the world how magnificent love can be.
"Peace is not the absence of power. Peace is the presence of love." -- Sri Chinmoy
Each day, live your life with love. Be kind to all you meet. Take the time to listen to others. Believe in yourself. Love yourself. Find strength in yourself. And the world will know peace. Because peace, it begins with you and me. It begins one person at a time. One person can touch the lives of 10 people. Now, those 10 people each touch the lives of 10 more. Now, it's up to one hundred people. If they each touch the lives of 10 people, that's a thousand.
Don't believe me? Sound too good to be true? Try this and prove me wrong, then. I bet you'll change the world trying.
