Season of Nonviolence – Day 30: Amends

Welcome to Day 30 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 30: AMENDS

"I will start anew, I will make amends and I will make quite certain that the story ends on a note of hope... and remember when I was able to begin again!" ~ Ebenezer Scrooge

Most of us are familiar with the story of Scrooge in Dickens' classic work, A Christmas Carol. It remains such a part of the western psyche because of the timeless truths it tells about life. The tale of how an innocent child becomes a bitter and greedy old man is all too familiar. As the various ghosts of his life reveal to him why he grew to be the man he is, he vows to change and make up to his family, community and employee for the unkindness he has shown. The trajectory of his life changes as he becomes more kind, generous and grateful, and makes amends for the pain he had caused. An apology is merely words, no matter how heartfelt they may be. Making amends requires actions that demonstrate our regret.

Today, contemplate or journal about those in your life you need to make amends to and imagine the effect doing so will make in their lives and your own. Take note of those situations in which the best amends is to let it be.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 29: Forgiveness

Welcome to Day 29 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 29: FORGIVENESS

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we would find in each person's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

When we realize the spiritual truth of the oneness of all life, we learn not to take things personally. We begin to live more peacefully in the world. When we are able to recognize the inner pain and turmoil that leads others to strike out in anger and rage, we connect to their humanity. Hate and fear cannot heal those hearts, they can only add to the fire. But when we find compassion in our hearts for their suffering, everything starts to change.

When we forgive, we are free to let go of the past and move on with our lives. We do not condone the hurtful behavior but we realize that there is something within us that is more powerful and important than this wounding experience. Today, write a letter to forgive someone. You do not have to mail it. 

Also, identify a person or group you have strong negative feelings toward. Consider how fearfulness and a belief in separation fuel the words and actions of this person or group. Contemplate or journal about how bringing love and light into your own consciousness and feelings can bring greater peace into your life and/or the situation.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 28: Listening

Welcome to Day 28 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 28: LISTENING

"The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention." ~ Richard Moss

Most of us are born with the ability to hear, but we all must learn to listen. Too often we hear with our ears as our minds construct our next statement, wonder when it will be our turn to speak, or evaluate what is being said. When we truly listen, we focus on the other person. We hear their words and the feelings behind them. We make eye contact. We check to make sure we understand what is being said. Sometimes it is all we need to do when a friend or loved one is in emotional pain. We do not have to offer solutions; we need only listen with our hearts.

Be mindful of listening rather than only hearing. Today, stop what you are doing and take five minutes to listen to the feelings behind someone's words to you. Be fully present for the conversation and interested in what the person is saying. Contemplate or journal about the experience.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 27: Generosity

Welcome to Day 27 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 27: GENEROSITY

"To generous souls every task is noble." ~ Euripides

Our thoughts usually go to images of gifts and material goods when we consider generosity. But generosity of spirit comes from within. It is our willingness to give of our time, our smiles, kindness, compassion and love. When we approach life with a generous spirit, we bring light into all we do. We may never know how we impact the lives of others by our acts, but when we cultivate a generous spirit, we can do no harm.

Mother Theresa said, "There is a hidden poverty more pervasive than lack of money. It is the poverty of the heart." Find three ways to generously give of your time, attention and resources to others.

Meditate today on your own generosity of spirit. Do you give of yourself freely or do you withhold your kindness and compassion? Journal about what you discover.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 26: Respect

Welcome to Day 26 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 26: RESPECT

"We live thick and are in each other's way, and stumble over one another, and I think we thus lose some respect for one another." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes giving someone space – physical or emotional – is the highest form of respect we can offer. We respect others in our lives when we allow them space to feel what they feel or honor their expressed wishes about our actions in their presence. Even when we vehemently disagree with another, when we respect their right to believe as they do, we bring more peace into any situation.

Be mindful today of how you interact with others around you. Do you respect their feelings, needs and beliefs or do you ignore them? Do you judge or condemn the person because you disagree with them?

Gandhi taught, "Language is an exact reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.”

Today, respect yourself and others be choosing not to use any profanity or "put downs." Journal about or contemplate what you observe about your behavior and attitudes and your willingness to be more respectful.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 25: Friendliness

Welcome to Day 25 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 25: FRIENDLINESS

"Therefore... cultivate friendliness; cultivate compassion, joy, and [detachment]" ~ Buddhist Proverb

Friendliness is a gift we can give to all we encounter in the world. It costs nothing to offer and takes nothing from us if it is not returned. Be kind, be helpful, smile, have compassion. Walking through our days with a frown, barely noticing those around us closes us off from our good. There are friends yet to be met, love yet to be found, kindness to share, hearts to mend. We miss these opportunities when we choose not to be friendly.

Today, be friendly with co-workers, cashiers where you shop, the teller at your bank or your server at your favorite restaurant. Smile, extend a friendly greeting. Notice how it feels when that friendliness is returned. Journal about or contemplate this experience.

From A Season of Nonviolence

Season of Nonviolence – Day 24: Harmony

Welcome to Day 24 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 24: HARMONY

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Have you ever heard an orchestra or choir learning a new song? In those early days of learning their parts, these groups can generate a great deal of dissonance. But when the piece is perfected, the harmony created by these diverse instruments carries awesome beauty. When our lives are not in harmony, when the diverse aspects create dissonance, we cannot create lives of wonder and joy. We must practice to create that harmony in our lives.

Choosing not to engage in any form of gossip today contributes to harmony and peace in relationships. Today, choose to see the good in others rather than finding fault.

Also, contemplate or journal about harmony, or its absence, in your life. Is there harmony in your relationships, in the ways you show up at home, at work and play? How can you tune up your life to create more harmony?

From A Season of Nonviolence