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First published in 2006 by Conari Press,
an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
York Beach, ME
With offices at:
500 Third Street, Suite 230
San Francisco, CA 94107
Copyright © 2006 Karen Casey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Casey, Karen.
All we have is all we need : daily steps toward a peaceful life / Karen Casey.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57324-268-3 (alk. paper)
1. Meditations. I. Title.
BL624.2.C365 2006
204'.4—dc22
2005033554
Typeset in Perpetua by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.
Printed in Canada
TCP
13 12 11 10 09 08 0 7 06
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter
Contents
II. Take the Road to Peace: Letting Go, Surrendering Our Need to Control, and Accepting What Is
III. Choose Joy: Making Loving Choices, Acting As If, and Relinquishing Fear
IV. Go with the Flow: Letting Go of Fear, Shifting Perspectives, and Embracing Change
V. Play Well with Others: Choosing Kindness, Creating Peace, and Living in the Now
VI. Pray and Be Willing to Love: Listening for God's Wisdom, Accepting Guidance, and Expressing Love
Introduction
THESE DAYS, our lives can feel so hectic and out of control, so lacking in hope and joy. And yet every day, opportunities to experience joy and create peace-filled lives come our way. We have within us the enormous potential to create peace.
It's a matter of how we view the people and experiences in our lives. Being willing to see things differently is all that we need. Every time we respond to a situation with love rather than anger, or fear, or hatred, we take a step toward a more peaceful life, and each step creates its own momentum for positive change—small changes that ripple their way ever outward, influencing other people, other communities, and, ultimately, the world.
That's right. Your decision to act from a place of love contributes to the well-being of all humankind. No matter how crazy the rest of the world seems, we are neither helpless nor hopeless. And the power to effect peaceful change is as close as our next thought. We have within us all we need to do our part in making this a more peaceful world. I'm not just playing with words when I say, all we have is all we need.
All we need to do is shift our own perspective, and we can create the very miracles we seek. The world we see and experience is nothing more or less than a reflection of us, every one of us, and the way toward peace comes through such simple actions as responding with love to our spouse or child, behaving with courtesy toward the person sitting next to us in a meeting or on the bus, smiling at the person standing ahead of us in line at the grocery store. We offer nourishment to all of us every time we say a silent prayer for someone. It's all about what we send out from our hearts.
Perhaps you have heard this before. Even if you have, I believe you will find much value in the thoughts I share with you in the pages that follow. We often need to hear about an idea several times before we are willing to try it on for size. Here I give you lots of ideas to choose from.
It's important to remember, however, that it's not our job to change anyone else. Our job is to practice new behaviors. How lucky we are that we can do this. We can serve as the change agents that our families and communities need, that we need.
Let's not shy away from our responsibility. Instead, let's be grateful for the many opportunities to express more peace-filled lives that come our way every day. It's through our example that others will be inspired. Then and only then will we see the change that Margaret Mead expressed so long ago when she said, so eloquently, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
How to Use This Book
This book offers ideas for baby steps we can take every day that will add up to a peaceful life and a peaceful presence in the lives of others. The daily thoughts are grouped into six parts, each dealing with a different aspect of the process.
I designed the book so that it can be opened to any page for inspiration. You don't need to read it front to back. You can, of course, read it all the way through, returning to those thoughts that are most meaningful for you. Or you can start with the part that speaks to you right now and work with those ideas, or open to any page at random and see what's there. Read one thought each morning for inspiration, or read several and select the ones that you need to practice today. You may want to write down the ideas that you would like to remember and post them around your home, car, or office where you are most likely to see them. Or tuck this small book into your pocket or briefcase or purse and read a few passages when you have a free moment during the day.
Throughout these pages I refer to God or to a Higher Power as my partner on this path. When reflecting on the thoughts presented here and bringing them into your own life, you may prefer to use another phrase— Creator, the Divine, the Universe—that encompasses a universal life force as you understand it. The word or phrase used isn't important—what is important is your willingness to take steps forward, every day.
So go ahead. Take one step toward a more peaceful life, and then another, and another. Creating peace is not about making sudden, big changes, but about the accumulation of many tiny changes. And it starts with us. But watch out! Once you start down this road to peace, life will never be the same.
Honor Our Common Path I
DEVELOPING A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN, FORGIVE, AND MAKE AMENDS IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS
THE MEN AND WOMEN who share our journey today, along