Below the Surface

Simple ripples carry all the way to the edge of the pond when only a pebble is dropped in.

A huge rock can be thrown into the middle of the pond, and it, too, will subside into simple ripples over time.

Can you hear in the long-term what is being broadcast loudly in the short-term?

Can you see beyond the distractions to the truth of what is really going on?

Course corrections can be made at any time.

But can they be made now?

It will be more efficient and bring more good to more people to make course corrections now.

But that depends on good leadership, and it also depends on insightful citizenry.

Below the surface, the pond is supporting life.

Below the surface all the systems which support a pond are interacting appropriately.

If we build our systems so they support all life appropriately and bountifully and generously, we need to act decisively and truthfully.

We need to quit being distracted.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Peace in My Body

With so much tension and confusion in my life, I lived with a nagging sense of unease in my body which could easily be triggered to crisis.

Now that I have taken the steps to slow down and listen inwardly, I am living better in my body.

As I released the tension and the pressure of my life, I was able to train my body to relax.

I began eating better quality food, as much organic and responsibly raised as possible.

I eat so much less because my body is actually satisfied.

I no longer crave the excitement of sugar to make up for the lack of sustaining, undiluted calories.

With my body at peace, my life rests on a different foundation.

I do not have to serve by body in desperate ways to make sure I am OK.

I eat naturally and eat lightly and am free to function comfortably and to enjoy the way I have always wanted to live.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Creating Little Moments

I am discovering the little moments of peace I create for myself are a great way to spend my day.

I feel as if I am moving across stepping stones of peace from one side of my day to the other.

My little moments come in the form of not rushing myself.

I begin collecting the ingredients for a cooking project, and add to them as I pass through the kitchen.

I read the recipe several times as I do.

I follow through on the next step of gardening.

I sweep a small area where I am reorganizing a shelf.

I look up a tool to help me perform a task.

I make sure to spend time with people who are supportive and who value my company as well.

I continue my progress on various projects in a gentle manner.

I do not get mad at myself for anything I have done or not done.

I do not evaluate myself in terms of someone else’s opinions.

I remind myself that it is perfectly reasonable for me to approach my day in a way that works for me.

This helps constitute a peaceful day for me.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Solitary and Alone

As much as I enjoy getting together with friends, I still have a lot of times, especially around holidays, where I really prefer being alone.

When I was growing up, getting together meant “putting on a good face” despite the serious dysfunction of my family.

As I have been sorting out these issues, I have been blessed with lots of “alone” time, to think through exactly what was going on and what it meant.

I am learning to go beyond the coping skills I developed as a child and to gain more understanding of my needs and how to take care of myself as I progress through the work I am doing.

I am learning to effectively put down panic attacks instead of escalating them by worrying about being panicked.

I am learning to place myself in positive situations, along with the fact that I have learned to leave negative or triggering circumstances.

Even though this work has required a lot of isolation, I am grateful for it.

I am grateful for taking the pressure off myself and giving myself the time to process whatever I need to down to the smallest triggering detail.

I am grateful that holidays no longer require me to sacrifice my calm.

There are other ways to celebrate.

I am sorry for the pain I received and I am sorry for any pain I delivered.

As I learn to live better, I hope everyone affected by me is learning to do the same.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com

Being the Peace

When you are in alignment with what you love to do and you are doing it, you are in the most harmonious and peaceful state possible.

You are being the peace.

Coordinating to create what you love into your life is the most powerful action you can take toward peace.

Living in peace begins with honoring your heart’s desire and soul’s expression.

You can create it in any field of endeavor, business, economics, politics, eduction, art.

As long as it comes from your heart.

Everything you need to create it is within your deepest feelings.

When you go within and listen quietly, you hear its’ whisper.

It is always a gentle presence in your heart and mind.

It is why you are here.

You are here to create the beauty and joy and delight in your heart and to live in peace.

When you share your wonderful ideas, you are creating peace.

When you acknowledge that the most important thing you can do is honor the ideas within you, you create happiness for yourself.

Your happiness contributes to the joy in your community.

The joy in your community helps create more peace.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Peace Settlement

The peace I find in settling one piece of business extends itself to a myriad of things.

Instead of searching and worrying and fretting about something, I have been able to turn my attention elsewhere.

I have caught up on several minor items, and found some things that were hidden or missing.

All of this was possible by taking care of one essential piece of business.

When a key item is put into place, so many other things adjust and can get done.

Getting the simple things done clears the way for more creative work.

I feel as though I am focusing on my peace within with grim determination as the outside world of government seems to be falling apart faster and faster.

The principles governing my life are still stable, however, as principles tend to be.

I am grateful for every step of progress as I find solutions to accomplishing my goals.

I know that principles of peace and harmony apply to each of us and to our government, and that we will find a solution, too, as critical adjustments are made.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com 

Dropping Our Pebbles

We shall continue to drop our pebbles of peace into the pond and send ripple after ripple to the shore.

Peace is achievable within each individual as we seek it instead of the disturbing images created to distract us.

The scale of deception is becoming so evident that more and more people are drawing the same conclusions.

As we devote our energies to the peace we seek within, we will see it increasingly around us until it encompasses the whole world.

As we articulate our profound dissatisfaction, we are discovering the people who have preceded us and who have discovered so many solutions.

This encourages us to find our own solutions right where we are.

We can take the first step, now that we have articulated our desire for peace.

We can take the steps to establish inner peace, and then join with others to express our solutions locally in our communities.

We do not seek peace “where there is no peace”, but within our own quiet meditation.

This communicates itself.

We move calmly through our day.

We find happiness and delight in little things and we share it, just by our attitude.

And we attract others of like-mind.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com

Universal Appreciation

What in my thought lets me reward or deprive others?

Every one is precious, beautiful, given unique gifts.

Each culture and society has different appreciations for different types of gifts.

Some are artistic, some are scholarly, some are economic.

The most balanced societies appreciate all the gifts and share them.

The most advanced individuals appreciate their own gifts and share them.

The most deprived individuals huddle in fear or rob others through various means, verbal, physical abuse, or privileged laws.

How can we comfort such deprivation?

What would we want to?

I would like everyone to live in happiness and prosperity.

Under the current system of values, that is not working.

With a cooperative set of values and practices, a philosophy of valuing each person and finding ways they can share their gifts would give everyone a measure of happiness and prosperity.

Social businesses benefit people in two ways, by the service or product they provide and by employing people to provide that service or product.

These two practices allow a more universal appreciation of people and their gifts while meeting their needs.

© 2017 Kathryn Hardage

www.pebblesofpeace.blogspot.com