International Day of Peace

Yesterday, 21st September, was the International Day of Peace. I wouldn't have known about it at all if my children hadn't brought a letter home advising on the ways that they could mark the day.

What did you do? Well on reflection perhaps I didn't do as much as I should have done, but none of my friends, colleagues mentioned the word "peace" at all and the day seemed to slip by. I thought about how we create peace at home, at work or school and I have written before about having places for quiet reflection in the work-place where we can go to think through problems, strategies and how we address work issues before communicating our conclusions to work colleagues. Sometimes in the workplace when we see someone sitting quietly, thinking, we assume that they are not working - they are daydreaming, but this is often not the case. Environments can over stimulate in terms of noise, colour, smell, activity and this will  affect our ability to work and problem solve. I love working in public libraries. Sometimes I take my laptop to a library to work, because of the peace and quiet - no telephone, no emails and I can think! I also give myself some time to look at books in a section that I wouldn't necessarily naturally migrate to - it is amazing how refreshed you can be when you come out, rather like after doing some yoga, and meditation.

Do you provide a peaceful place in your work environment? Do you provide a tranquil place for your children to do their homework? Do you turn all the radios, televisions, computer games off for a certain period of time each day so everyone in the house can experience peace and even talk to each other about their day, the issues they have to address? Do you spare a thought for those around the world who are unable to experience peace in their homes and living environment? 

Martin Luther King encapsulated this thought when saying "Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal".