Five Quotes on Peace, Love, and Kindness...and why I think we need more of it
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."
The Dalai Lama
I cried today. I haven’t done that in
a while. My mind—and heart—are still reeling from the recent
shootings in the movie theater in Colorado. What a horrific, selfish,
and senseless act. I still cannot believe this actually happened
(another one). It prompted me to write this post, but at the same
time I don't want to focus on the shootings...especially not on the
shooter himself; there's enough of that in media right now and for
days to come. My thoughts and prayers are with the dead and injured,
and their families and friends.
It's unbelievable to me that this keeps
happening. It really is. I can't help but wonder what the hell is
wrong. And I know that there is no simple or single answer. Today, in
many instances, violence is not only encouraged but actually
glorified. Our society is out of balance.
I've thought about this a lot in the
last couple days. My soul weeps for the families and victims. While
these random shootings seem to happen more and more frequently, this
one in particular has hit me hard. It's overwhelming. I can't imagine
what the people who are close to the injured and murdered are going
through.
What is really frustrating is that I
personally feel as if I can't do anything; likely others feel the
same. What about the next one, I sometimes wonder? It is overwhelming
to me. But the more I thought about it the more I realize that I can
do something, even if it is little tiny steps. But I have to start
small...with me. For it is the small and seemingly insignificant acts
of kindness that can really make a difference. Changing ourselves
from the inside out—treating each other with more kindness and
compassion on a daily basis—can really make a difference, I
believe. We, as a society, have to change...it's our only hope for
survival. We sometimes worry about terrorism from other lands, but at
this pace we are going to implode within our own borders. To
paraphrase a Minister whom I've seen speak on the subject of peace a
few times, “Our country knows how to wage war—and on a grand
scale—but what we really need to do is learn how to wage peace.”
It is highly unlikely that anyone close to the people in the shootings is reading this. But in the rare chance
that you are, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you
and your families. And though we will likely never meet, know that
through your loss I plan on making personal changes—however
small—which, in turn, will hopefully make changes around me and
elsewhere. I am so truly sorry for your loss.
"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood."
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other."
Mother Theresa
"This is my simple religion. There is no need for
temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own
heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."
The Dalai Lama
Caroline Kennedy
"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun
makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and
hostility to evaporate."
Albert Schweitzer
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