Who is "Peace Warrior"?

As Mother Teresa said, "If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."  There are lots of ways to wage peace in this way:

​

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen

• Donate to a local food pantry

• Keep non-perishable food in your car to offer to unhoused individuals

• Ask your local school officials if you can start a Food Pantry club at the school, and teach the students how to manage and staff the pantry themselves

• Build a "Little Free Food Pantry" and keep it stocked, either on your own property or at a public place such as a library or church.  Make sure to get permission if it's in a public space!

Showing our support for the peaceful and compassionate movements we support requires "showing up"... sometimes literally.  A demonstration-- in and of itself-- may not change the world, but it is an opportunity to join with other like-minded individuals, amplifying our voices and fortifying our strength as we continue to fight for equity, liberty and justice for all.

​

When attending any public event, make sure to respect the rights and personal space of others.  Be kind, be calm, be peaceful, and be safe.   The Human Rights campaign offers a very useful Preparedness Guide for peacefully protesting, available here.

We all know what a difference a simple act of kindness can make.  Maybe the smile you give a stranger is the only one they receive that day; think how powerful that could be. You can't singlehandedly save the world, but you can make a difference, a little bit at a time.  Here are just a few ideas for throwing some  kindness around:

• Pay for the person behind you in line at the coffee shop.  (Even better, do it anonymously.  It makes the barista's day, too, to get to be a part of "paying it forward".)

• Hold the door for people!  This seems like simple, common courtesy; but you can make it an event by giving them a bow and a flourish and exclaiming "After you!"  This usually elicits at least a smile... and it's even more fun if you do it for several people in a row.  Ham it up-- it may make someone's day!

Think about things that others have done for you which have made a difference in your life, and try to pay those things forward by doing something similar for others in need.  Or imagine what it would be like to experience having someone offer you a certain type of kindness, and do that very thing for someone else.  Helping another person experience joy in their life will invariably bring joy to your own-- it's a win-win.

In his "Conversations With God" books, Neale Donald Walsch talks about  "shifting focus from 'What's in it for me?' to 'How can I serve you?'"   This is a great way to come up with ways to wage peace in your own community.  Make sure to respect everyone as fellow humans with whom you are on a shared journey; be sincere when you offer help; and listen to what they need-- not what you assume is right for them.  Compassionate listening  is always a good starting point.