International Day of Peace

Did you know that today is the United Nations' International Day of Peace?

According to their website: "The United Nations' International Day of Peace - marked every year on September 21 - is a global holiday when individuals, communities, nations and governments highlight efforts to end conflict and promote peace. Established by U.N. resolution in 1982, "Peace Day" has grown to include millions of people around the world who participate in all kinds of events, large and small."

Click here to see their website, which is filled with information, links and a short video about the important work the United Nations does worldwide.

Peace and Love,
Angela

Synchronicity and Simplicity

I've been feeling uneasy and out-of-sorts the last few days. I've been feeling out-of-step with my immediate surroundings, much more in tune with what I read on many of the blogs I follow.

So when I read Bonnie's post this morning on her blog, Original Art Studio, I knew I just had to post the quote she has on her sidebar here, on my blog, as well. Whenever I'm bombarded by other people trying to impose their materialism on me, I want to have these words to come back to:

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages,
with open heart;
to study hard;
to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently,
await occasions, hurry never;
in a word,
to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common
--this is my symphony.
~ William Henry Channing, 1810 - 1884

Yesterday, in the midst of hundreds (many of them were my in-laws), I felt very alone. Bonnie's very thought-provoking topic in her post is about loneliness vs. solitude, based on this quote:

Loneliness is the way by which destiny
endeavors to lead man to himself.
~ Hermann Hesse

The synchronicity of my reading this post this morning, when I'm feeling like this, took my breath away. It was just what I needed. To read her post and follow this worthwhile conversation, click here.

(Thanks so much, Bonnie!)

"Death is a tragedy ...
but only for the living.
We who have died go on to other things."
~ Charles de Lint

For Renee, my wise and generous friend at Circling My Head.

Rest in peace, dear Sheldon.