The Gift of Peace

Our world is troubled. There's so much hatred, jealousy and friction between people. In the midst of everything are misconceptions, gossip and chatter.

Where is humanity headed in all this noise?

How can we even begin to find peace in such a turbulent environment?

What kind of world are we leaving our children to manage when we are gone? 

Yes, there are wars and conflicts in our world. We can't help hearing about these awful events on the news. We are living with perpetual traumatic injustices which have become "normal," and this should never be reality. Yet, here we are. 

Nowadays, many people are struggling both financially and emotionally due to our complex world. It's a bit like a house of cards that falls apart after one card shifts and the others follow. 

I've seen families that are destitute and struggling to make ends meet after recent lay offs. Some parents go hungry to feed their kids. Kids come to school without essential clothes like good shoes or a raincoat. 

There is no such thing as a quick fix to solve every complex issue in our proverbial house of cards. What we can do is create small changes in our lives and our immediate surroundings.

I often talk about how the little things matter most in life. Our outlook shifts when we recognize the many small moments of truth that we all have in our life already.

We have the responsibility to our children to try and make our world a better place before they inherit it.

Think about your life for a minute. 

Do you have love in your life? A roof over your head. Water to drink. A bed to sleep in. Food to eat when you are hungry. All are essential for living, and we take them for granted. 

Not everyone in this world has this luxury. 

Not everyone in this world has peace in their life. Some people live in war zones and are caught up in conflicts. Many people go without clean drinking water and regular meals.

I know what it feels like to live with daily trauma. It's something I cannot explain in words. What I can share is that after living in poverty and on the brink of death , my perspective has shifted about life values.

I don't take anything for granted, instead I try and be grateful for what I have.

Teach yourself to be grateful for every moment that is good in your life. 

Give someone a compliment now and then. Notice how you feel after doing it. (Feels good right?)

Recognize that there are always people around you that can help during a bind or difficult situation. 

Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Sometimes, a mistake can turn into the best life lesson or learning opportunity. 

Know that you are imperfectly perfect and that is okay. You are who you are, and nobody has the right to tell you to change. Only you have that power.

Be grateful for your friends. They have your back when you are not at your best.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. It's not a sign of weakness, but the opposite. Knowing that you cannot do something on your own and reaching out for help, shows great strength.

Most of all, know that you have peace within because you matter.

My name is Lizzy. I'm a trauma survivor, a wife, a mom, a teacher, and an author.

For more about me: www.elizabethwoodsauthor.com

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Here are a few links to my top articles:

Looking for a Change?

https://medium.com/activated-thinker/looking-for-a-change-f391e85abbd7

A Search for Identity

https://medium.com/beyond-lines/a-search-for-identity-893df7c970c2

Are You Searching for Peace?

https://medium.com/illumination/are-you-searching-for-peace-cd54d76231c8

Are You Dealing With Burnout?

https://medium.com/illumination/are-you-dealing-with-burnout-374f774141b4