Hopefully you and yours had a wonderful holiday season. As 2012 draws to a close and the New Year looms ahead, it’s a good time to reflect. Unfortunately, a few trends come sharply into focus. Our nation, and our world for that matter, has seen much too much trauma and turmoil. It’s been difficult to turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper lately. The newscasts and headlines have been full of tragedy and sadness. It seems as if there is simply not enough peace in our world today.

Wikipedia defines peace as “a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict and the freedom from fear of violence.”

Clearly, what we need is more peace. A whole lot more.

So that brings us to the $400 billion dollar question. How do we achieve more peace?

Well, I’m not sure if it’s the most perfect answer in the world, but the other day I came across this quote by Mother Theresa – “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Could it really be that simple – we just have to remember that we belong to each other? That we are all part of the human race?

Well, then, maybe we could start in little ways. For instance, the next time someone cuts us off on the highway, before we get all irate and give in to road rage, maybe we could consider that the driver might’ve had a good reason for driving like that. Maybe he didn’t mean it and he’s simply in a hurry to take care of a loved one who’s fallen ill or needs help in some way.

How about next time we’re in a long line and the clerk seems a bit slow, maybe we could consider that she might be new and needs just a bit of our patience.

And why be angry at that sister-in-law who got up from the table on Christmas without helping to clean up. She may have issues that she’s dealing with that are weighing heavily on her heart and mind. So, perhaps she just forgot to lend a hand. It happens to all of us from time to time.

What about if someone expresses an opinion that is very different from our own? Should we bicker and condemn? Couldn’t we consider some compromise? Whatever happened to common sense and compromise?

There are a million little ways that we could spread a little peace in our world. And then maybe, just maybe, we may start to see a change.

Maybe we should remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson – “Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.”

So, my wish for 2013 is this. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Anyone else have some suggestions for Peace? Please leave comments here, but we’re also having the discussion at BlameItOnTheMuse today http://blameitonthemuse.com

Come join us!