We Want Your Mug!

So I had another crazy idea, and am hoping you can help. And I want it to be fun for you ~ to be a part of our mission to share peace!

As you probably already know, “52 Weeks of Peace” is about creatively inspiring individual peace in everyday ways, 52 weeks a year ~ each one of us doing whatever we can to give a sense of peace not only to others, but to ourselves; things that fill us with appreciation and hope, with more light and more strength. I’m not going for world peace just yet – just one person at a time. It’s doable. From there ~ who knows how far ripples can reach?

And I’d like some faces to go with the message. I’d like your faces. (Here’s our first…^!) I’d like to take and collect as many as possible and make a simple video. (It does sound fun, right?) Like I said, it’s just an idea. People are busy. Heck, I’M busy. We’ll see how far it gets, but I figure it’s worth a go.

All you need is a camera, a 52 Weeks of Peace product, and a smile!

Then, you just take “waist-up” shots of people holding (or wearing) something “52 Weeks of Peace” (the book, a favorite postcard from the book, a bag, button or mug…). People of all ages, shapes and sizes welcome. A solid background is preferred but not “absolute”. The only requirement is that it’s a clean, clear shot that shows off one or more people ~ and that it is freely given for public use (no names please) ~ and the picture should be happy.

There’s no prize, no “special offer” ~ this isn’t a big business deal, just one artist/writer looking to round up some friends and friends-of-friends who like the idea. That’s it. Grass-roots, “just because”. If you’d like to be part of this project, you can post a picture to the 52 Weeks of Peace facebook page, or send them to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com. (You can also ask questions in a comment below.) I’d love for you to join in.

Peace starts right here, right now, with you, with me ~ let’s inspire, let’s do this!

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ps: this doesn’t replace “where in the world is peace?” series, but adds to it and brings people more front and center.

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“where in the world is peace?” … san diego, grand canyon, morristown

Peace participated in a San Diego, California business meeting, sat by the pool and stopped for coffee. It also viewed the Grand Canyon and was spotted outside a Morristown, NJ movie theatre. As ever, my huge thanks for sending these in. Your sharings of peace are appreciated by all!

Grand Canyon, Arizona

At the movies!

San Diego coffee shop

San Diego, California

San Diego business meeting

Where to next?

(ps:  you can see all “where in the world is peace?” images on our “where in the world is peace?” page. Our book is on Amazon, our totes, mugs and things are available here. Please email your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or post them on our FaceBook page. Let’s see where peace goes!)

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Tuesdays with Chris: “A Woman’s Perspective “

Chris Staley

Chris prompts a discussion among three phenomenal women art professors that in 6 short minutes speaks to the heart of teaching, self-confidence, engagement and passion. Really terrific.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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Dragon Moods

“Come not between the dragon and his wrath.”
~ William Shakespeare, King Lear

I’ve been stealing some time here and there to work on my Book of Dragons, so thought I’d share a couple more glimpses. Funny thing about these, I find myself feeling attached, as if they were real…. but then again, maybe they are ~ just out of sight, across and through the veil that separates worlds… :  )

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Gratitude X’s 3

I had some fun feeling grateful. Hope you will too ~ and I’m wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought;
and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

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Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. ~ Karl Barth

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Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

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Tuesdays with Chris: “Thanksgiving”

Chris Staley

A very appreciative video this week, reflecting on what we are grateful for. A lovely piece! Thank you, Chris.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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Reading Ditty

As a voracious reader myself, I firmly believe that reading is truly one of the most worthwhile, elevating things we can do at any age.

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ps: my marketing muse tells me I should plug my own books, too, so here they are … a click on the image below will take you to my amazon author page, or you can see all my loot at my shop (left menu on this page). :  )

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Love, Peace and Madness Rant

Maybe it’s always been so (Charles Dickens is forever chiming in my ear about the best and worst of times…), but this is the only lifetime I’m certain of, and it sure can feel like a world gone mad.

I’ve been in a fairly non-stop “create” mode for a while now. Years, really. It could be a defense mechanism, a “distraction” from the evils of the world. From the seemingly endless, seemingly requisite wars (will we ever stop killing each other?), from energy drinks (hello????… urghhhhh), drugs that fix one problem and cause another (possibly even death), and biased news reporting that offers up panic, fear and division. From leaders who decide who can eat what and when they can eat it.

From a world where we can live vicariously through adventurous “reality shows” and where something as utterly tactless as Jersey Shore becomes a number one tv show (gag me NOW).

There’s more texting and less talking. Entire world views and life events get summed up in 25 characters or less. And forget politics ~ behind the mask of virtual communication, there exists a culture of some of the most righteous, adolescent, hateful language I’ve ever seen, even from people who are otherwise good souls. Hear it, repeat it, blame it, get riled up, feel good about yourself. What?

Then there are the freakishly large storms, ice knocking out the east coast last October, this October, hurricane Sandy shredding NJ and NY. Tsunami’s, earthquakes, fires, devastation, heartbreak, momentary reflections of what matters most.

But there are also amazing people, incredible stories of human love and courage, and ordinary people who choose to uplift over putting down. We have hearts, minds and spirits that, I believe ~ despite what often seems an unraveling of what is right and decent ~ are for the most part inherently good.

And when you put all this together – the best of times, the worst of times ~ I often come up with the simple view that it really is just madness. You can’t truly take it all in without feeling chaos, without feeling torn apart. Ordinarily a fairly balanced individual, I do get incensed. My blood does boil, I cry out for the senselessness of so much going on in the world, the helplessness many feel, the charged, misdirected emotions and the sense that our chains are being yanked.

Then again, maybe it’s all an illusion.

Chaos, madness or illusion, I’ve discovered that a pretty good option for avoiding lunacy is to live under a rock. I used to joke about this, but maybe I’m not kidding after all. I like it there. It’s a pleasant, pleasing place of my own making. I can create to my heart’s content, and have all kinds of wishful thinkings that it might make a positive difference “out there”.

I suppose, since I’m not going to join a fanatical mob of any sort, that it’s my way of fighting evil. Small potatoes really, but it beats getting sucked into the fray. And if what I do might bring one smile, or hit one nerve of warmth and hope ~ even fleetingly ~ I figure it’s not wasted.

I could go ahead and decide it’s all for naught. Pointless. But as an eternal optimist, I’ll figure that it’s worthwhile. Or else go mad.

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Tuesdays with Chris: “A Search for Meaning”

Chris Staley

“What are you trying to say with your art?”  Back when Chris was a grad student brimming with enthusiasm for his craft, he was deeply struck when asked this question. Perhaps needless to say, he has some answers now.

Consciously or unconsciously, the art we create has social meaning. Within the context of boxes, twin towers and clay, Chris gives us a personal glimpse into what makes some of his own work tick, then segues gracefully into a fresh explanation of Maslow’s 4 stages of learning.

(If you missed my introduction about Chris Staley, master potter, educator and Penn State Laureate 2012-2013, you can read that here.)  Enjoy!

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“where in the world is peace?” … among barns and pumpkins

We love Ohio people! Many, many thanks for this awesome “peace shoot” ~ we wish YOU much love and peace.

Where to next?

(ps:  you can see all “where in the world is peace?” images on our “where in the world is peace?” page. Our book is on Amazon, our totes, mugs and things are available here. Please email your own pictures to 52weeksofpeace@gmail.com or post them on our FaceBook page. Let’s see where peace goes!)

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