Today is my Peaceful Day. It is the message offered by the monks who are walking for Peace from Ft. Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. They will arrive in Washington on Tuesday. I have been deeply inspired by their determination, openness, and the simplicity of their practice.

Many of us can feel helpless at times, as if the world is burning all around us. It’s true that angry protests or strongly worded letters often draw immediate attention, yet our individual impact can still feel small.

If you’ve watched any of the videos of the monks, you can see the quiet power of their mindful and peaceful presence. Their message carries strength—just as powerful as protest—but it falls like a gentle rain, nourishing everything in its path. While a forest may need both rain and occasional fire to flourish, it is the steady rain and sunlight that sustain life far more than a raging blaze.  When we live in a constant state of anger or anxiety, it can quietly erode our own well-being.

If you are interested in following the monks as they arrive in Washington, D.c. enter Walk for Peace into your social media platform or YouTube.  In particular they will be offering a Global Loving Kindness Meditation on Wednesday, February 11, 1:30-4:30pm PST

Here is a short video if you haven't yet witnessed the impact of the Walk for Peace.

https://youtu.be/-l01XzGIuo0?si=7GENtrvr9jfhI6e3

Today, I’m choosing to practice peace in small, steady ways. In the words I speak, in the tone I use, in the pauses I allow before reacting. It may not make headlines, but it shapes the atmosphere around me and within me. And perhaps, like a soft rain, these small acts of steadiness and compassion ripple outward farther than we realize.  

With abundant metta,

Barbara