14 March 2011

Season of Nonviolence – Day 44: Cooperation

Welcome to Day 44 of the Season of Nonviolence – 64 Days of peaceful wisdom honoring the lives and nonviolent principles of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

Day 44: Cooperation

"I love to hear a choir. I love to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that." ~ Paul McCartney

The best music requires cooperation. One person with one instrument can present lovely, touching, and powerful songs, but their efforts rarely equal what an orchestra, band or choir can achieve. Each additional instrument and artist brings unique gifts that are multiplied exponentially. When combined they can create beauty that gives us goose bumps, moves us to tears and lifts us up. How much more can we, as a human family, do in cooperation with others than we could ever do alone?

When we work together, we are stronger that when we work alone. Today, find one significant way your can cooperate more effectively with the people in your family or workplace, school or community. Do it.

Be cooperative today. Lend a hand, pitch in and help, become part of a group or team that works together toward shared goals. If you are already part of such groups, consider how you could add to their success with greater cooperation. Do you tend to dance to the beat of a different drum or does cooperation come naturally? Journal about or contemplate how you feel about cooperation.

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