Dona Nobis Pacem

Thanks to Katherine for this edited image.

It's Blog Blast day and in honor of that, today's post is dedicated to peace. For a complete rundown on how this collection of posts from around the world came to be please visit mimiwrites . Two others that are participating that I like to read are Katherine at wading through... and Travis at travsthoughts

World Peace.

Why is this a concept that is so easy to understand, but so very difficult to achieve? Especially when I hear the phrase, "Why can't we all just get along?" spoken time and time again. In my opinion it's because we are all, to varying degrees, selfish people. In other words, we want what we want.

Now before you start formulating a response to me because I called you selfish please let me qualify that statement. Know that I'm talking in generalizations. Some people are very giving individuals who expect nothing in return for their generosity. Others demand our full attention every time they extend themselves. Most of us fall somewhere within the middle of these extremes.

So as to not classify any of you who may read this, I will use myself as an example. I like helping other people who are in need of something. At the same time I like to hear thank you from them. My act of kindness isn't necessarily done because I expect anything in return, but when there's no apparent appreciation on the other end I feel disappointed.

I write on this blog because I enjoy expressing my thoughts, but I wonder if no one ever left comments would I enjoy it then? Honestly, for a time I probably still would, but eventually it would leave an empty feeling in me.

I'm sure I could give you many more examples of how I do things with the greatest intentions and then my humanness gets in the way and I look for the "at ta boy". How do I combat this? I think it's kind of like how you eat an elephant... one bite at a time. First, I realize and admit it's a attribute about me I'd like to change, then I conscientiously make an effort to change my motives day by day.

So what does this have to do with world peace? I think true peace comes from transferring what's in our head to our heart. If we really want to make changes in the world it has to start with ourselves. I know loving other people more than myself is right, but unless I apply that in my everyday life it's just useless knowledge.