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Peaceful Things by Janet Nestor

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Peaceful Things by Janet Nestor

"Peaceful Things"
By Janet Nestor
Art by: Gena Livings

Janet Nestor, my guest blogger, is my friend and one of my favorite authors on the topics of spirituality, positive thinking, and well-being. I’m very happy to share her article with you today entitled; “Peaceful Things.”

At some point in my life, I chose to turn away from chaos and live in peace. I wanted to feel physically calm and rebuke fear, worry, and anxiety and embrace the truth of who I am. I was not made for chaos. I was not prepared for war. I was not created to live in fear. I was not designed to judge and criticize others. I am not programed to hate and condemn. I was born to preserve life in all forms. I was created to love. My body is wired for joy, for happiness, for tenderness, to support, to comfort, to be kind and accepting.

I do choose to experience peaceful feelings inside my body and in my environment. I'm not content all the time, but it is my goal to live from the heart virtues and the ethics they silently represent. It is my goal to learn, grow emotionally and spiritually, increase my empathy and intuition - to share what I learn. Self-acceptance and self-worth are at the top of the developmental list because they bring inner peacefulness which is the first step toward world peace.

I know what it feels like to be left out, to be made fun of, to not have enough money for the grocery store. I know what it is like to grow the food that you eat and preserve fruits and vegetables for the winter months because you must. I know what it feels like to be so shy and fearful that I hide instead of participating. I also know what it feels like step out of my comfort zone and bare my soul through my writing. I enjoy being part of a meaningful conversation, living among loved ones, and collaborating within a tribe of beings who work to bring love and peace into the world, to be a teacher and a student.

We don't live in our genetic family or meet our soul tribe by accident. Within our tribe are like-minded, loving, peaceful, adventurous, activist, accepting members, some genetic family, who travel through time together. When we met again, we "knew" each other instantly and we shared life for a moment or bonded for a lifetime. Others of our tribe are not in body, but traveling along with us in spirit, guiding us, teachings us, inspiring us, coaching us to wake up, stand up, and do the job we came into physical being to accomplish. We are not alone. We have our human companions and our spiritual friends, teachers, and confidantes. Together, alive and in a physical body, and alive and in a spirit body, we combine to create a family with a distinct mission.

When I think of individuals throughout history who are loving, inclusive, powerful, yet gentle - I think of the Dalai Lama and his lineage of awakened men of great spirit -of Joan of Arc and her angels - the Buddha contemplating the meaning of life and peaceful living while sitting under his tree. I think of the great yoga teachers who find peace through movement and breath. I think of Yeshua the Christ meditatively walking for endless miles barefoot, taking in the beauty and energy of nature, loving the Earth, showing kindness and compassion and teaching reverence for all life. I think of people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King who taught love and coexistence through peaceful action and Nelson Mandela who taught coexistence through forgiveness, positive interaction and cooperation. I respect John Lennon, and his songs Give Peace a Chance and Imagine and great philosophers and authors like Lao Tzu, Immanuel Kant, Jane Austin, Upton Sinclair and Paulo Coelho. I remember esteemed scientists and teachers like Albert Einstein and the countless, often unrecognized, women leaders who created positive change and helped to enlighten, teach and create: Women like Hypatia, Mary Magdalene, Hildegard of Bingen, Sojourner Truth, Florence Nightingale, Ann Frank, Amelia Earhart, Mother Teresa, Ada Ball, Virginia Apgar, and Jane Goodall. I honor the great artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci who taught through their glorious creations. I recognize and praise the enlightened indigenous leaders from around the world who for centuries have worked tirelessly to preserve wisdom, culture, and customs and to save the Earth’s diverse habitats and the environment from destruction.

Throughout history, great beings have walked the earth – here to awaken us, end violence and war, teach love and cooperation, to bring beauty and gentleness to all beings – to educate – to research and discover new scientific wisdom – to break racial and gender barriers so all can live as equals. I am grateful for those magnificent souls of past generations, of those here with us now, and for those who will work for peace and unity in the future.
In the words of John Lennon – Imagine, no greed and hunger – imagine, a brotherhood of man with all the people sharing all the world.

About The Author: Janet Nestor is a melting pot of interests and skills; her greatest asset is her dedication to her work as a licensed professional counselor, energy psychologist, soul detective, and teacher. She is mindful of her inner peacefulness knowing that her internal quiet facilitates a calm environment for her clients. She holds a vision of world peace and works to hep bring this into reality through her counseling, teaching, and writing. You can reach Janet at www.mindfulpathways.com, on Twitter at @JanetNestor and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JanetGNestor, www.facebook.com/PathwaystoWholenesswithJanetGNestor