May you be blessed with good friends,
And learn to be a good friend to yourself,
Journeying to that place in your soul where
There is warmth, and feeling.
May this change you.*
(John O’Donohue)

I found myself thinking of the advantages of a peaceful way.

If we’re always living aggressively with others and ourselves, as in irksomely or at-odds-with, we reduce what we’re able to receive and hold on to and work with and, consequently, what we’re able to give.

Sometimes an “I’ll show them” attitude is just what is needed but not all the time, perhaps not even for very long at all.  It gets us going but then what are we going to do?

Peace is about finding the growing place, releasing our imaginations to roam and capture and open up more possibilities than we can make possible in turmoil.  It doesn’t mean you can’t have edge, you can’t be wild; something John O’Donohue reminds us off in another place:

‘The Irish word “Uaisleacht” means nobility; it also carries echoes of honour, dignity and poise.  A person can be wild, creative and completely passionate and yet maintain Uaisleacht.’ 

(*From John O’Donohue’s To Bless the Space Between Us: For Friendship.)
(**From John O’Donohue’s Eternal Echoes.)