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Readers Share: A Monthly
Edge Life Column Featuring Your Personal Stories
This month: Peace
Vietnam Vet Peace Story
As a drafted Vietnam Vet who served in combat for 12 months as a grunt in the jungles
of Cambodia and Vietnam, I have seen enough hatred, death and destruction to last
several lifetimes. As I touch the piece of bullet that remains lodged in my arm from
one of the many times that I was shot at, I'm reminded that war will never bring
peace, just more pain and misery. The fighting didn't stop in Vietnam. I carried
the turmoil from this jungle agony into my relationships and co-created mini battles
of my own. I now know that peace comes from each individual's actions in how they
relate on a daily level to friends and family and neighbors. We need to become what
we want the world to be and we're one step closer when we realize that peace is the
gentle choice that we make in each present moment action, not an idea that we force
others to comply with. -- David Behr, Crystal, MN
Peace, Meditation and God Within
My path towards peace started when I changed an idea in my mind. I used to think
God was outside of me and now I believe that God is within each one of us. I try
and tap into this inner wisdom when I meditate. This change in awareness has made
great changes in my everyday life. I've stopped waiting for peace to happen in the
world and I just work on it within myself. -- Yvette Schultenover, Grand Rapids,
MN
Bathtub Peace Story
I watch my girls playing in the bathtub. They are completely immersed in the moment
-- splashing and laughing --enthralled with the bubbles, the droplets, the sounds.
And I realize that with all the books on present moment living and meditating and
spirituality that I read, I am just grasping and trying to regain what my daughters
experience so naturally. They have a peace that all of my reading and meditating
can't seem to recapture for me. Then panic washes through my body as I fear that
they will lose this innocent bliss. What squelched it in me so long ago and how can
I keep it from being squashed out of them? -- P.B., Hopkins, MN
Friendship Turmoil
For over a year I've had a friend grump at me when I talk to her on the phone. She
does this just enough so that I'm aware that I irritate her. I'm befuddled by her
mysterious intolerance. Yet there are enough gems in the friendship that I overlook
her verbal throwing stones. Internally I work on the friendship and ask myself: How
can I talk differently with her? Should I ask her what's wrong? Should I gently let
her know that it feels hurtful to be talked to in a snippy way? Then it happens again.
During a phone conversation she clenches her teeth and jabs at me with staccato words.
"I feel yucky when you talk to me that way," I gently protest. Dial tone.
She hung up. She can't take the conflict. Neither can I. Then I imagine the world
full of chattering people all engaging in some sort of dysfunctional communication
or another like the one I had with my friend and, in those moments, world peace seems
unattainable. -- Name Withheld
Readers Share is your personal anecdote, your personal story, as it relates to
a broad topic each month. We ask readers to limit your story to 150 words. Writing
style isn't as important as thoughtfulness and sincerity. In order to protect privacy,
individual names within stories will be changed. If you have changed names already,
please let us know. Due to space limitations, we may be unable to print all the submissions
we receive. Lengthy submissions to "Readers Share" will be condensed and
edited for clarity.
We ask for your personal story on the following topics:
March: Healing | Deadline January 1
April: Intuition | Deadline February 1
May: City life | Deadline March 1
June: Water | Deadline April 1
July: Eating organic | Deadline May 1
August: Spiritual Parenting | Deadline June 1
September: Nature | Deadline July 1
October: Dieting | Deadline August 1
November: Emotions | Deadline September 1
December: Dreams | Deadline October 1
Send your stories only by e-mail by the deadline to Readers@edgelife.net. E-mail
us at that address with questions or for more information. |
| February 2005 |
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