Today an innocent man was executed in the State of Georgia and most of the Western world is still caught up the silliness of Facebook changing their news feed. One man dies and another one is frustrated over the way he receives his friends’ news. The absurdity of it all is just too much for me to bear right now so thus I write- to try and make sense of it all, if that even is possible.
It also just hit me today that I know in my heart of hearts that one of the main reasons I travel so much is that I truly believe that the more we all get out of our own cultural comfort zone and travel away from “home”, the more we can truly understand, love, and be compassionate with all those who are living around us-in every corner of the world. We can be ambassadors of peace everywhere we go, sharing a smile, a story, a meal, a conversation and remaining humble and open to truly get to know people from every walk of life…
Of course, there are the luxuries of swimming in the deep blue seas of Greece, marveling at the awe-inspiring temples of Bali, trekking in the jungles of South America and enjoying blissful massages on the beaches of Thailand , but in my heart of hearts, I know that the most profound moments I have had when I am living and traveling overseas are those irreplicable moments of connecting with the local people-there is no souvenir that even comes close. None.
To be able to share and connect and celebrate in both the differences and similarities of each other’s cultures is truly the way we will slowly have peace become a place in our world. We must put down our guns at last and speak, love,and understand each other first. Egos must be left at the front door as well as hundreds of years of battling for pieces of land that have only become pieces of scarred tissue on Mother Nature’s womb. We must forgive, let go, and move on. Now.
So on this day of “International Peace”, I would like to say to each and every one of you who has taken the time to read this: “You CAN make a difference. Peace begins with you. Be compassionate- moment to moment. Care about your neighbors, care about your friends, be good to your family and all those around you. Pick up the phone to say “thank you”,” I forgive you”, “I am sorry”. And take time to travel to parts of the world that might scare you or intrigue you. That's right, take the "road less travelled"... I swear you won’t be sorry you did.
Peace.
