Nationwide program to foster nonviolence - 64 ways to practice nonviolence
By Myrna Krehbiel and Cathy Anderson
Telling someone you love them. Accepting a compliment. Choosing not to kick the dog when you are in a bad mood.
These are all ways to practice nonviolence. Most of us would agree that they make us feel better, and yet, they might not come naturally to us -- unless we practice.
"A Season For Nonviolence" is a nationwide program, now in its sixth year, to help people discover ways to practice nonviolence in their everyday lives. It includes 64 activities -- 23 for practicing personal peace, 23 for practicing interpersonal (one-to-one) peace and 18 activities for practicing community peace. Each day from today through April 4, one activity is offered for practice. At the end of the 64 days, every participant will have tried at least one new thing and increased their understanding of what they can do to reduce violence around them.
Locally, the program complements efforts of the Harvey County Partnership/Communities in Schools to "ensure that our kids succeed in life."
In 2002, the Kansas Children's Report Card gave Harvey County a C- in the area of "Safety and Security." It may seem hard to believe, but violence to children here is above both the state and national averages.
That kind of statistic can make us feel powerless, discouraged, even hopeless. Too often, we may not be aware of the everyday actions that we can take. We may not realize we have choices about how to act. We may think that only giant efforts will accomplish something, and we are afraid we don't have energy to spare for a giant effort.
That's why Peace Connections recommends "A Season For Nonviolence." It's do-able. It doesn't push politics on us. Because we are practicing and experimenting, we don't have to worry about getting it right the first time.
By practicing creative, constructive ways to reduce violence in ourselves and the world around us, we believe we will be able to influence future generations to do the same.
Myrna Krehbiel is director of Peace Connections in downtown Newton. Cathy Anderson is administrative associate.
64 ways to practice nonviolence BEGIN LIVING YOUR LIFE FOR PEACE
PERSONAL
Nonviolence begins by learning how to be less violent and more compassionate with ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.
JANUARY 30
- Courage Eleanor Roosevelt urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do." Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do. Today, light a candle and accept the courage to practice 64 Ways of living nonviolently.
JANUARY 31
- Smiling Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh said, "If in our daily life, we can smile...not only we, but everyone will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work." Today, share a smile with at least three people, knowing that your smile contributes to peace.
FEBRUARY 1
- Appreciation Louise Hay says, "Praise yourself as much as you can...the love in our lives begins with us...loving yourself will help heal this planet." Write down 10 things that you appreciate about yourself. Read aloud what you have written.
FEBRUARY 2
- Caring According to Peter McWilliams, "Nonviolence toward the self is caring for oneself. Self-love a crowning sense of self-worth...it is what the Greeks call reverence for the self." Real caring is not just what we say, but what we do. Make a list of at least five ways that you can take better care of yourself. Practice at least one today.
FEBRUARY 3
- Believing Author Wayne Dyer writes about the impact that our beliefs have on our daily lives. Today believe that you have all the resources to move your life in the direction of peace. Be aware of simple, peaceful responses you receive.
FEBRUARY 4
- Simplicity To simplify is to invite peacefulness. Think of three ways you can simplify your life and put at least one of them into practice today.
FEBRUARY 5
- Education Knowledge strengthens your conviction and deepens your wisdom and understanding. Learn about the power of nonviolence by educating yourself. Read an article, periodical or book; watch a video on a subject that relates to nonviolence. Learn about human rights, diversity, ecology, history, politics, forgiveness, spirit-uality, peace studies, biographies of heroes and more.
FEBRUARY 6
- Healing Writer, poet, activist, and professor Maya Angelou turned a traumatic childhood experience into a catalyst for creativity and achievement. Today, choose a painful incident in your life and find the "gift" it has given you. Consciously share this gift with others.
FEBRUARY 7
- Dreaming Martin Luther King, Jr., had a great dream. What is your own dream for peace? Write it down. What is one thing you can do to honor your dream? Do it today.
FEBRUARY 8
- Faith When Caesar Chavez was organizing farm workers, he challenged them to say, "Si, se puede" (yes, it is possible) when they didn't know how they would overcome obstacles. Today, say, "Yes, it is possible," even if you don't know how your goal will be realized. Have faith and say, "it is possible," until you find a way.
FEBRUARY 9
- Contemplation For at least three minutes, relax, breathe, and let your mind be fed "by whatsoever is good and beautiful." Sacred scripture states, "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
FEBRUARY 10
- Groundedness Gandhi said, "To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves." And Black Elk said, "Some little root of the sacred tree still lives. Nourish it, that it may leaf and bloom and fill with singing birds." Today place a seed in the earth or nurture a plant.
FEBRUARY 11
- Creativity The worst thing you can do to a human soul is to suppress its natural desire to create. Identify at least five ways in which you express your creativity everyday. Today, allow something unpredictable and joyous to express through you.
FEBRUARY 12
- Humility Making mistakes is a part of learning and growing, simply an "error in approach." Today, freely acknowledge at least one mistake you make and reflect for a couple of minutes on what you have learned.
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