With the holiday season still fresh in my mind, so is the ideal of peace on earth.

I used to tell myself no one person can fix all that is wrong in our world. No one person can bring about peace, especially global peace. That is true. As I matured, I did realize that even one person can "fix" or contribute something. If enough individuals do what they can where they are, those single efforts add up, and they do make a difference.

Let's focus on some specifics. Please post your ideas in the comment section. The more; the better. So, what can we, as individuals do to come closer to realizing peace in our world?

What better time than the end of one year and the beginning of a new one to resolve to set forth our own unique plans for promoting peace? Do you have special interests, talents, or skills that could contribute to making this resolution a reality?

Let's discuss a few options.

Do you wish you had spare money to donate toward the cause of global peace? Look around your house and garage. Have a yard sale, or sell things you no longer use on Ebay.

A builder can donate skills or finished products to help the less fortunate, or sell them and donate the profits to a favorite charity that encourages peace. The same holds true for anyone that "makes" something. Do you cook? Sew? Knit or crochet? Maybe you make crafts to sell from your home or at craft fairs. Another good way to set aside a bit extra and donate toward a worthwhile cause. As well, some of your special talents could be used to teach children. People, including children, who are busy, who learn and use a worthwhile skill, who see the example of people helping people, have higher self-esteem and are less likely to be angry or prone to violence.

If you'd like to enlist other members in your push for peace, think of things you could do as a community to further the effort. Peace in you first, and now we can figure out some ways to help make your community one of more peace, and less violence and crime.

Greed and poverty work hand-in-hand to hinder peace. There are ways one person or any number of people can aid the community.

1. Volunteer to read to the elderly or to tutor the young or illiterate

2. Organize the planting of a community garden in a vacant lot where those on low or fixed incomes can contribute to putting more food on the table

3. Donate at or to a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, or a shelter for abused women and children

4. Start a neighborhood watch group to help lower crime

5. Adopt an impoverished family for the holidays, or any day, through your church or place of business. Help them with food and clothing

6. Volunteer to work with children via Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and similar organizations

7. Start a book drive and make them available to the disabled or to children who have none at home

8. Cook a meal or run an errand for an elderly, ill, or disabled person, or a veteran

9. Again, involve your children whenever you can. They will learn by your example.

 Again, fall back on your unique talents and skills to make a difference in the best ways that you can.  Some ideas:

 1.  Write a poem or essay and put it online or submit it to your local newspaper

 2.  If you are an artist, draw or paint what represents peace to you and post it online or find other ways to exhibit it

 3.  Do you sing or play an instrument?  Make music for peace wherever and whenever you can.  Like a smile, music is a universal language.

 4.  Public speaker?  Make a speech on what can be done to encourage peace

 5.  Light a candle or a lot of candles in honor of the promotion of peace

 6.  Take a meditation break to think peaceful thoughts

 7.  Keep a jounal and write down you thoughts and feelings about peace efforts

 8.  Say a prayer

 9.  Create a hub geared toward helping peace happen

10.  And one more time, involve your children.

May our efforts toward bringing more peace into our lives and the lives of others spread and grow throughout the world.

Karen Chaffee 2008 All Rights Reserved