Alliance for a New Humanity - I thought this sounded really hopeful!

[LaurenG]

http://www.anhglobal.org/

"I Take the Vow" Mantra Bracelets

Join Deepak Chopra and the Alliance for a New Humanity in transforming the world through a commitment to peace. Take a vow for non-violence in your thoughts, speech and actions, and wear your "I Take the Vow" Mantra Bracelet as a constant reminder of this important intention. Deepak recommends that you first close your eyes and put awareness in your heart. Focus on someone you love and feel that love building; then, when you feel full of love, ask yourself honestly and seriously if you are willing to commit to a vow of nonviolence.


Bracelets - from daily Om (Thank for steering me to this site IHAD)
http://www.dailyom.com/cgi-bin/display/productgroup.cgi?pid=1098

[I Have A Dream]

1. Thanks for posting this, Lauren. (I'm glad that you like the DailyOM site.)

:)


Of course, this could be done with anything -- even something like tying a ribbon around your wrist or wearing a rubber band. The important thing, in my opinion, is that when you see it, it reminds you of your intention.

It doesn't have to cost anyone money. However, a portion of the money does go to the Alliance for a New Humanity organization.

I like this idea. :thumbsup:

[get the red out]

3. Daily OM rocks

I love that site.

[get the red out]

2. I wish I were peaceful enough for that

I am working on it, but I just don't think I have the DNA. Really, I always want to be a nice person that doesn't get angry, one of the "good liberals" but a lot makes me really mad, like the injustices in the world and cruelty to women and kids, viscous intolerance....the list goes on.

I can't take vows, but I can work on my mental state, I do try. But I'm an appalachian girl and I do have a temper, so I just try to realize that the universe must want me to have an edge or I wouldn't have been born who I am. I can try to demonstrate peace by my actions, even when my mind insists that some people out there just need killin'. }(

Sometimes people need to have a little anger to stand up to people that don't give a damn if there is a bit of peace or justice or love in the world. The greedy leaches that steel people's lives and worth.

That being said, I do very much like Deepak Chopra. I just gave up beating myself up because I'm not "good". ;)

[Why Syzygy]

4. lol. you sound a bit like me...

I am completely committed to non-violence. But I do admit I'm not a "nice" person. I'm not quite there with my thoughts all the time. They probably are more peace loving than many, however.
(especially judging by some of the stuff you can read on the Internet)

When I was much younger, 20-ish, people always thought I was so sweet. It really irritated me. If I had a strong reaction to something, or got ticked off (which admittedly was rare), they looked at me like I was an alien! What happened to that sweet WS?
I felt it put me at a disadvantage somehow.

Now, a long term roommate I had in this area, told me I was the "sweetest person" he has ever known. And, now that I'm MUCH older, I can live with it. Even though he is WRONG! :rofl: I'm okay with him having that perception. But, when someone expects me to buckle under and behave a certain way (their way) due to being "nice", forget about it! I'll take the "not nice" hit much more willingly than cave on things that are important to me.

Reminds me, too, of a woman who attended floral design school with me. She was so quiet, and SWEET. She had come into a big insurance settlement, and opened a franchise flower shop after we finished school. Eventually, I went to work for her as a second job. She never allowed me to do even a smidgen of design work, though. It was always cleaning and restocking. That sucked. So, after a few weeks, I quit. She did a 180! She was so mean and vindictive! Wow. That taught me right then that NO ONE is all sweet all the time. Everyone has a line. We are all a mixed bag.

You've always been really nice to me :D

[rosesaylavee]

5. I am glad I am not the only one...

I too am referred to as 'sweet'. Those who get to know to me tho know I have a fairly sharp sense of humor and an attitude more reflective of 'there damn well better be peace or I will know the reason why'. But I mean it in a sweet way of course.

:P

[OneGrassRoot]

7. Count me in with this group. :)

When I see children, animals or the elderly being abused or even merely neglected, I quite literally fly into a rage. Can't help it. :(

About two years ago I had the misfortune to be behind a pickup truck with a young dog chained in the back, but with wayyyyyy to much room. My blood pressure instantly goes up when I see this (I'm in the South), and sure enough, the baby flew off the side of the truck and was dangling there. I blared on the horn, dude pulled over, as did I, and my (now fiance) and daughter were MORTIFIED as I ripped him a new asshole.

I'm trying to figure out how to get legislation passed to make that punishable by at least a fine.

:mad:

The empathy and the rage thing like above make me hesitant to actually be AROUND people. I feel I can be much more effective and compassionate behind the scenes. Too much interaction leads to depression, quite frankly.

It is hard to feel like a "good person." ;)

[rosesaylavee]

9. I think nothing of going into people's yards to see why their dogs

are crying. Drives my family nuts but I just can't stand to see anyone hurt or hurting without me doing whatever is in my power to make it stop.

Fierce when it counts is an important and good quality to have.

[NJCher]

10. I don't get mad; I start crying

I guess it's 'cuz I'm empathizing with the animals.

One day I was having lunch at an outdoor cafe and a guy came walking down the street with a dog who had on one of those chain pinching collars. I'm not sure if that's how to describe it but maybe you guys know what I mean.

I stopped to ask the guy why he kept jerking the collar on his dog and he pointed out that it was a training collar and he was training the dog. I asked, "With pain?" and then tears started rolling down my face. The man became very unnerved as I became more and more emotional.

I asked him if he couldn't think of a better way to train his dog. By this time my nose is red and tears were streaming down my face.

Now this man appeared to be thinking twice about his choice of training method.

The last thing I said to him was, "We have to show animals 'love'!"


Cher

[rosesaylavee]

12. You know I bet that worked as well as what I have done.

For example:

I have a neighbor who had been leaving their new dog on so short a lead in their backyard that the poor thing was getting tangled and in so doing, choking itself and then crying. I just physically can't stand to hear an animal in pain so I went for a walk around the block to see where that sound was coming from. Went into their backyard just as they were coming out to get the dog so the neighbor, who I had never met, saw me in her backyard and after a brief but polite exchange understood that I was concerned about the wellbeing of their new dog. Had to only do it one more time for them to adjust their behavior. I think it important to hold a mirror up for people to let them how their actions are being viewed. And if you are polite and rational, they have some room emotionally to change their behavior. Sometimes it only takes brief, polite but concerned conversations to do this. My family was amazed that I would just go up to a neighbor and ask what was up with the dog as I heard it crying... I think the overriding custom is to turn the other way and allow people privacy. Which I don't think is a healthy custom when it comes to animals or young children or really anyone in need of outside assistance.

:fistbump:

[Shallah Kali]

11. Even Jesus got mad. Anger itself isn't bad, it's what you do with it that counts

I remember reading after 9/11 an article about Thich Nhat Han where he said that if he could talk to those behind it he would need many friends to help him stay peaceful. Even this wonderful peace loving monk gets mad! I no longer buy into the 'nice people don't get angry D@^^(T any more. It is just one more way certain groups in power use to keep those they consider less than them down. Kinda hard to rise up against the oppressor - even peacefully - when you know harm may be aimed at you for standing up. Anger rightly used gives courage and fortitude in difficult situations when otherwise the knees would be knocking in fear.

Sometimes people need to have a little anger to stand up to people that don't give a damn if there is a bit of peace or justice or love in the world. The greedy leaches that steel people's lives and worth.

ITA! This is righteous use of anger putting that E-Motion (energy in emotion) to work for just causes. I say put anger to work. Don't stuff it in the Shadow or nurse and feed it. Just acknowledge it as emotional energy, use it up as best you can, and it will dissipate on it's own.

[Kind of Blue]

6. Thanks for the link to the very nice site!

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Yes, thanks for the link and info, Lauren. :)

I'm always stunned to see how amazingly successful DailyOm has become. I knew Madisyn wayyyyyy back when, like 10 years ago, and now she's a bestselling author, has an incredibly successful business and oh so much more!

Good for her. :)

And, I've always been a fan of Mr. Chopra.