fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Take Your Daughter to Work Day
By: Pamela A Meyers
Tags: Interview, Humor, Pets, Inclusion, Snakes

Me: Thank you for granting this interview. You have a lovely pit, by the way. Have you lived here long?

Snake: We’re originally from Eden, but emigrated after the Great Apple Fiasco of 01. That was challenging, as we were forcibly expelled with just the clothes on our backs.

Trying times, indeed. Have you kept close ties with your extended family, then?

Oh, yes. I’m only the 486 gazillionth descendant in that lineage, so it’s not too difficult.

You remind me of someone. Are you related to ophisaurus?

HA! That legless lizard?! Lowlife. Snake wannabe! Never trust a reptile with eyelids.

Our discussion was interrupted by one of the numerous children awkwardly writhing in the corner. His slithering away was immediately followed by a yell to “get back in here and hang up your used skin like I showed you instead of leaving it in a crumpled heap on the floor.”

So sorry about that.

No worries. Children require a lot of attention, don’t they?

In today’s society? I couldn’t agree more. And we snakes have it harder than most. Last week, for example, was Take Your Daughter to Work Day. This seemingly progressive movement assumes that everyone is equally able to tell their daughters apart from their sons.

Yikes. I hadn’t thought of that before.

Gender-privilege, my friend. Right there.

I see that now. What else should readers be aware of?

Some of us prefer the term “snakex”, as it’s more inclusive, but I’m not sold on it. Frankly, it’s hard enough figuring out where to put the possessive apostrophe after s, never mind x. I mean, should it be “Welcome to the Snake’x”?”

I’d like to talk more about social norms. Can we circle back?

It’s a talent of mine.

Some say snakes are, by nature, dangerous. Do you believe there’s more to the story?

No doubt. We serpents always get a bad rap. One day you’re out innocently hunting for bare feet when — Wham! You’re whacked in half by a shovel. Who’s dangerous now?! Infuriating! Oh look, I’ve gone all rattly.

Er, tell me more about your family.

We make the most of every opportunity. My great-great-grandpa, for example, started out with nothing more than two frogs and a half-chewed mouse. But now look at us. Dinner practically walks in here by itself.

Wow, I hate to cut this short, but I gotta run.

So soon? I hope you’re not frightened by my aristocratic airs.

Oh, no! You’re very down-to-earth.

What about a closeup for your article?

I’m good, thanks. I’ll just see myself out.

Catch you on the flip side.
Harvard Professors Come to Pinterest
By: Pinterest Inclusion
Tags: Culture, Diversity, Management, Leadership, Inclusion

“Leadership, at its core, is about making other people better as a result of your presence — and making sure that the impact lasts in your absence.” — Frances Frei, Harvard Business School

School was back in session at Pinterest this autumn. We had the honor of welcoming five Harvard Business School professors for a custom series made available to all Pinployees around the globe. Bookended by Frances Frei’s courses, our team had the opportunity to learn from some of Harvard’s finest faculty: Tom DeLong, Francesca Gino, Tsedal Neeley, and Amy Edmondson. The goal of the series was to enable Pinployees across all levels and functions to lead with excellence.

“I am so grateful for this series. It gave all of us a common language that we can use together as we are working to develop these concepts in ourselves. I made a post-it of the ‘trust triangle’ on our very first day, and have been referring to it ever since” reflects Kristen Scully, Program Manager at Pinterest.

The series took place weekly from September through November, and saw high participation — more than 1700 attendees worldwide. Each session ran for approximately 90 minutes, and topics ranged from leadership and meaningful collaboration to managing global teams and creating a culture of inclusion.

Keegan Carter, an Account Manager in our San Francisco office reflects: “The series offered me a glimpse into my life at scale as a more refined and impactful leader. The course showed me what habits, practices, and skill sets distinguish good leaders from great ones. And the communicative ability of the lecturers allowed me to understand how to become one of those people. This experience is one that I will cherish and consistently take with me along my journey.”

The courses helped Pinployees action our mission to “bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love,” because when we support each other and lead with empathy and inclusivity, we can bring the best possible experiences to our Pinners. Pinployees had the opportunity to connect prior to, during, and after the courses over a dedicated Slack channel, and to share their thoughts and feedback both publicly and anonymously throughout the series.

“Our intention behind bringing Harvard Business School professors to Pinterest to lead these sessions was clear: to enable our teams to be the strongest, most empowered, and most inclusive leaders possible. We are grateful this series allowed us to continue to transform our culture into one we are all proud of, and express deep gratitude to each of the professors and Pinployees who joined us” said Tyi McCray, Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Pinterest.

For more information on culture and careers at Pinterest, visit our Pinclusion blog, careers page, and Instagram.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion matter more than ever right now.
By: Berkshire Bank
Tags: Inclusion

By Berkshire Bank

There is plenty of evidence showing that demographic and psychological diversity drive innovation, productivity, and enhanced financial performance. So, what can we do at Berkshire Bank to further focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D, E&I)?

1. Learn from our adaptability, and look beyond

With the abrupt arrival of COVID-19, we’ve been shown in one fell swoop that businesses like ours are capable of adjusting to a new way of doing business. What we can do is keep pushing and asking ourselves: where else can we adjust to benefit D, E&I?

2. Making the process transparent and informed by a diverse representation

It’s important for response planning and decision-making to be unbiased and informed by diverse perspectives in a time of crisis. We should work on slowing down, avoid simply following our gut-reaction. Work to identify and know your bias, and surround yourself with a diverse team, gather the facts, and communicate transparently.

3. Start a dialogue that acknowledges the difficulty

Supporting marginalized colleagues or customers begins with a conversation. With social connectedness being important. You should keep conversations flowing. The continuous lockdowns and remote environments let us open up new dialogues. This is especially true around issues such as the difficulty of social isolation and the mental health issues that may arise from it.

4. Allow for adjustments, big and small

COVID-19 has shown us a new reality of what work is and how we do it. The changes that we are making now in the workplace will benefit diversity and inclusion efforts beyond this period, e.g., equal access to technology for all employees and increased digitization for improved accessibility (online conferences, webinars, and training for those who can’t attend events in person).

Let’s keep the momentum going and channel this energy into diversity and inclusion initiatives that make an impact today and tomorrow. You can find more resources, tools, and tips on our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging page linked below.

Our Be FIRST values at Berkshire Bank reinforce our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging by creating a foundation that empowers and ensures everyone can thrive in our workplace.

Yes, it’s hard work — but it’s necessary to work.

More on Diversity @ Berkshire
Jesus Needs Us To Know Him As Much As We Need To Know Him
By: Debra, Debi, Yvonne Simmons
Tags: Peace, Philosophy, Correction, Atonement, Forgiveness

If I wanted to feel alone.

Where would I go?

To the place where the voices

say we are one

and none resonate that in their

compassion and words.

I would find a multitude

to tell me how divine we are

and yet exemplify that only one way is correct.

I would hear the words of love

and feel the hollow echo of empty chasms.

I would hear the words “come unto me” and

find cold, bitter, winds of vengeance and

recall of the illusion of separation.

I would look outside of myself

and be lost.

Inside I know differently.

Inside I know peace.

Inside I know hope.

Inside I know promise.

Inside I know creation.

Inside I know that circumstance does not define.

Inside I know that truth is full of joy and exquisite delight.

Inside I know that God IS.

Is there anything that I require but this knowledge?

Companions lead us to that witness and

in this, I know Jesus as my friend.

For he tells me of his witness of the Father

and I believe.

The Holy Spirit walks with me and

bears witness this is so.

Circumstances come and go.

Babies are born.

People die.

Weather changes.

Still the stillness inside

reigns supreme.

Because I have taken the words of Jesus

into my heart and made them mine.

There is nothing I can offer you or anyone

that is greater

than the invitation

in this, I know Jesus as my friend.

…

There is nothing I can offer you or anyone

that is greater

than the invitation

to do the same.

Till next time, God bless, bye for now.
I never thought I’d see an upside to Brexit! 😀
By: Where Angels Fear
Tags: Satire, Funny, Christmas, Peace, Humor

There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. A high-powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.
Lake
By: Upen Singh
Tags: Peace, Poem, Poetry, Haiku, Nature

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Deep in Heavenly Peace
By: Aisha Adkins
Tags: Peace, Christma, Graduation

It’s Christmas morning and I am sitting in my undecorated living room. I laugh to myself thinking about the other night when my parents and I were watching the PBS special Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas with Vanessa Williams. We were singing along and enjoying the warm fuzzies of the Holidays. My mother remembered a lot of the words to our favorite Christmas carols. Surprisingly, my father chimed in with his baritone voice…

“ Deep in heavenly peace…”

I opened my eyes and said “ who in heavenly peace???” My father said “Deep — what?” I informed him that the word is “sleep” and he was dumbfounded that he had been singing the wrong words for nearly 70 years.

My mother laughed as well, and continued singing along, her honeyed voice soothing the edges of a very stressful year. She sounded so full, so clear. The best she’s sounded in years, as dementia had caused her voice to weaken and soften over the years.

In fact, my mother was having a really good day, despite a few sleepless nights in a row the week prior. That day, she was present, lucid, and aware. Just as she had been the previous Friday when my parents and I celebrated my graduation from my master’s program.

I dawned my cap, gown, and master’s hood. My mother dressed in an elegant kaftan and my father in a luxurious sweater. And we sat before our smart television and watch my 40-second clip from my virtual ceremony.

My mother gasped and brought her hand to her heart when my name appeared on the screen. Earlier in the day, as we prepared for our little at-home ceremony She didn’t have much to say in that moment, but her reaction let me know she understood the enormity of the moment and was filled with pride at her baby’s accomplishment.

In these fleeting moments of joy, I was truly at war. I had to fight off the dread monster that sought to overshadow these sweet (though fleeting) moments spent with my family. I could keep replaying the days earlier that week when pent-up stress spilled from my body as I was wracked with pain and panic attacks disrupted my post-exams glow. I could still be living in those events right now.

As many of us learned this year, lamenting over circumstances over which you have absolutely no control is not only senseless (though tempting for all of us), but toxic to your mind, body, and soul.

So, on this day where I, as a Christian, celebrate the birth of my savior Jesus Christ, I choose to “seek peace and pursue it,” falling deep into heavenly peace. I will count my blessings and give thanks for my family, my friends, my education, and new opportunities on the horizon.

The holidays are hard for a lot of people, especially this year. But I encourage everyone — regardless of your faith or lack thereof — to take even just a brief moment today to take stock of the good things in your life. Center them in your heart and mind. Let yourself be overwhelmed with gratitude. Enter deep into heavenly peace. Then, whenever you are feeling overcome by dread, fear, or grief, return to this moment and let it carry you through.
Happy Christmas!
By: Lori Mccray
Tags: Peace, Christmas, Photography, Love, Joy

Photographer, Poet, Musician, Mother, Mystic, Gardener, friend of wild creatures, swan whisperer. Find me on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingthing/
Philippe Blondin Applauds the Upturn in Israeli-Moroccan Relations
By: Houda Belabd
Tags: Peace, Jewish Museum, Morocco, Philippe Blondin, Israel

Philippe Blondin Applauds the Upturn in Israeli-Moroccan Relations

The first commercial flight between Israel and Morocco. Photo courtesy of MAP.

Rebuilding relations between Israel and Morocco under the aegis of the United States is a positive step in the service of peace and harmony between the two sides, Philippe Blondin, President of the Jewish Museum of Belgium, stated on Thursday.

“ It is a great pleasure for me to learn this good news which makes us all happy in the gloom of the end of the year,” P. Blondin said in a speech to the MAP.

He highlighted the centuries-long ties between Moroccan Jews, as well as their common history and culture.

He referred in this context to the heroic gesture of the late HM Mohammed V who opposed the introduction of anti-Jewish laws during the Vichy regime and refused to hand over the list of Moroccan citizens of the Jewish faith to Marshal Pétain.

He also underlined the vision of moderate Islam advocated by HM King Mohammed VI, which established the roots of living together and tolerance that distinguish Morocco from other countries.

The president of the Jewish Museum of Belgium also mentioned the tremendous potential for cultural cooperation between Morocco and Israel in view of the common history that unites Moroccans of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.
Peace To All
By: Russell Meyers
Tags: Peace, Respect, Love, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Take a step back, take a breath in.

Enjoy what you have and where you are.

We build the road going forward.

Happy Holidays!

https://youtu.be/5jLcyQCX3_c
Merry Christmas and a happy new year from Minister & Author Paul J. Bern
By: Pastor Paul J Bern
Tags: Peace, Social Gospel, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas Greetings, Real Truth

I am Rev. Paul J. Bern, a well-known Web pastor and regular blogger on The Social Gospel Blog on Medium, Patreon and others. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio
Peace be with all of us!!!
By: Laxmipathy Ait
Tags: Peace, Postive Tots, Art, Beautiful, Colorful

You’ll never find rainbows if you’re looking down and I do wonder

Have you seen all the constellations? Have you seen the many other wonders this universe has to offer?

Have we really lived your life yet?

Difficult times tries to knock us down...

Remember we are stronger and our battles are won in the mind first.

And our stars are watching us.

Peace belongs to us.

#durgalakshmipathy

#durga

#lakshmipathy

Happy Christmas to all, #seeker #art,#event,#randomthoughts,#people

,#awesomeearth ,#postive,#postivity,#worstyear2020 ,#fightback ,#vibes ,#goodvibes ,#joy ,#missyou,#lifestyle,#celebration ,#watch,#look ,#seekhelp ,#bangalore ,#whitefield ,#dad ,#mom ,#bro ,#family
Why Racial Discrimination Still Exists?
By: Hazriq Danial
Tags: Peace, Discrimination, Racism, Race, Equality

Here’s The Why

Racial discrimination still exists to this day. Why is that you might ask? The answer is simple. Society.

Society has shaped so many ideas towards us as a whole. You’re fat? People hate you. You’re skinny? People will label you as an addict or anorexic. You’re black? People will be extra cautious around you. You’re Muslim? People will say you’re a terrorist. You’re white? Uhh, you get a pass! Maybe? Actually, not really, you’ll still be labeled by society. Just like how I did by saying you get a pass.

These are the ideas that have been embedded in us as a society. It is rooted in us to be both racist and selfish. See, humans, for thousands of years had one goal. Survive and Reproduce. It is human nature to judge and label in order to survive.

If I were to put you in a group of 10 people which you will depend your life on. Would you choose a group with 10 people of which you know, or will you choose the group with 10 strangers? The obvious answer would be the former. Unless you’re networking, you’d probably choose the latter.

This is the foundation of racism. You pick the ones you feel safe with, you choose the ones you’re familiar with, because it gives you a sense of wellbeing, or to put it bluntly. You feel like you will survive. This is because an us-them mentality is part of our biology as human beings, it’s in our nature.

Can We Ever Stop It?

Yes, but not entirely. It’s the same dilemma as to why we will never have world peace. We’re selfish beings and more importantly, human. We are not perfect, we will never be, we can only try to be the best version of ourselves. With that being said, it is possible to at least be civil and humane.

So how do we stop it? We change how society perceives and judge others, which we’re doing pretty great at. In the past few decades society has improved by a tremendous amount, especially in how we label others. Social constructs are better than they’ve ever been. Women are free to do things without being judged or criticized as much as they once were, body acceptance is blooming, people are free to practice their religion without getting shot at. The world is indeed a better place than it once was.

We’re slowly trending to a world where it’s society is more and more humane. The only problem is, there are still moronic people out there that are just, not the nicest nor the smartest. These are the people that tarnish the life of others and make people’s life miserable.

Our voice is what will shut these people down. Remember my point about the us-them mentality? and how I said it is deeply rooted in us as human beings? We’ll use that against racist people. The stronger our voice is, the less of them there will be. Reshape how our society thinks and sooner or later, it will be the norm for society. A society in which the people care about one another and the ‘us’ will be humanity as a whole, and the ‘them’ will be whomever that tries to disrupt the peace we’ve established.
Christmas Bells
By: Mark Jones Jr.
Tags: Civil War, Christmas, Peace, Poetry, Longfellow

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the words to the poem Christmas Bells on December 25, 1864, during the dark days of the Civil War, but one cannot understand the depth of meaning in these words without understanding Longfellow’s story, which includes yearly tragedy during the war — the death of his wife with severe burns to his own face and news that his son had been severely wounded in battle. Dr. Don Meyer has written an excellent editorial on the subject.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

(The poem is in the public domain. https://poets.org/poem/christmas-bells)
Vibe Tribe!
By: Abhishek Midha
Tags: Peace, Positive Thinking, Nature, Soul, Negativity

Vibe! What is vibe? The vibe is basically that we can sense by our soul! Vibe is a very powerful feeling to live in this world. We get vibes from people and Nature.

Vibe tells us to whom we need to connect and to whom we don’t. The most precious gift given by God to feel it!

“In science we call it energy, In Religion we call it spirit, In the streets, we call it Vibes and I believe it’s trust”.

Watching a beautiful view in the morning with positive thoughts would be the most memorable morning of your life and enjoying the beautiful weather. It’s all about surrounding yourself with positive vibes!

It’s our intuition that helps us to know that we will be getting good vibes or negative vibes from nature or from the person. If we don’t get good vibes then we try to escape that place and to never meet that particular person in our life and that’s called “peace of mind”. So, it’s all about our guts and feelings that come from our soul.

“The Soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand”. Rumi

You vibe so beautifully when you meet another person of the same life frequency as you are. Everything becomes effortless and you naturally click with such individuals and then at that moment you started feeling like you both are meant to cross the same path. At that very moment, your soul gets connected with that person, and then you both as an individual vibrate very positively!

“Intuition is real. Vibes are real. Energy doesn’t lie. Tune it”

Always be thankful to closed doors, bad vibes, and stuff that falls you apart. It’ll protect you from things not meant for you.

Energy and vibe are interrelated if you are positive then your energy will be at a very high scale, full of happiness, joy, and freedom you are at that place when no one can disconnect you from that vibes.

We all know new energy will always enter in our life time to time that will come with more positivity due to this greater things will happen to us and because of this our soul will be at a happy place which helps us to vibe at a very high frequency.

Getting older doesn’t mean you are having a very huge amount of experience, it also means that you know to whom you need to connect or to be surrounded by. People that are good for you, good to you, and good for your soul.

Always be positive, vibe at a different level, stay positive, be full of positive energy!
Welcome in the triggers that trigger you …..
By: Sundy Gilchrist
Tags: Self, Triggered, Peace, Explore

Welcome in the triggers that trigger you …..

For its in their energy that lies your peace and freedom

Go within and look …be an adventurer and explorer of the essence of your inner dark …the wounds that sting sometimes, and maybe even still bleed …..

Choose to trigger yourself …..Look into your box of regrets and select some to heal

The feelings of the triggers hold the keys to your evolution …

Review your past

Leave no box or cupboard in your being unopened …..they leak their shutupdness in time and damage you and others ….

Spring clean (in winter) the things that you have boxed and labelled and. placed on shelves in your mind …..to the farthest reaches …in an attempt to not have to look at that pain ever again …..

Little did you know …until you do know…that they leak out into current behaviours and expressions …and we wonder why …”why is this still happening in my life ….it must be her, him, them…”

Be an adventurer and an explorer …

Reach into those boxes, cupboards, and to the farthest reaches on those shelves

Let the energy of those old wounds come forth …all the old hurts , betrayals, losses…..

Peace, love, freedom…..waits …at the other side ….

Hear the sighs of relief in your body mind and soul as you start ….

Much love

💛💛
How to Shoot the Perfect Holiday Card
By: Jeanine Mouchawar
Tags: Peace, Lightness, Love, Joy, Collective Consciousness

Focus on why a picture is important to you.

Every year since the kids were born, we’ve taken a holiday card picture. As soon as I mention it, my kids start complaining.

I overhear them saying to each other: “Guys, just smile and cooperate so we can be done with this.”

Or when we are on vacation, “Hey, let’s get a good picture now, so mom won’t torture us in December.”

Or the attempt at cooperation, “Just wear whatever mom tells you-I mean, who cares?”

Let’s face it, yelling “smile” at your kids is probably not going to get you the desired result.

So why do I torture my family (and myself) every year?

Connection. With friends and family spread over the country, the holiday card is a way to feel connected. I enjoy seeing pictures of them, so I assume they enjoy seeing pictures of my family too.

Growth. I am reminded that change is the only constant. For me, the holidays are an anchor in time and I enjoy having documentation of the kid’s through the years (not so much me!)

Belonging. Although my kids complain every year, it’s an opportunity for them to be a team and create a sense of belonging to one another. And to be honest, watching their continually evolving relationship brings me joy.

When you feel anger or frustration creeping in as you are trying to get everyone to smile for the camera, keep in mind why you really want a holiday picture. When you focus on why you are doing it, versus making it perfect, everyone can relax and lean into the fun.

This year we attempted a photo of all five of us for the first time in six years. Prioritizing connection, growth, and belonging enabled all of us to laugh and have fun together, adding to the joyful memories of our family of five.

Hanukkah and Christmas are the celebration of light. Although this year might not look like past years, let’s keep in mind what’s truly meaningful and important to us and be the light for our family and friends too.

Sending lots of light, love, peace, and joy to each and every one of you.

Merry Christmas!

“Ask yourself: Is there joy, ease, and lightness in what I am doing? If there isn’t, then time is covering up the present moment and life is perceived as a burden or a struggle.”

-Eckhart Tolle
music. because we all have a soundtrack.
By: Iulia Rădulescu
Tags: Peace, Mindfulness, Music, Quiet, Songs

Do you usually spend 2 extra minutes in your car just to finish listening to the song that’s playing? Do you stall while shopping just because there’s a specific song on the radio? If the answer is yes, then we have something in common: this great thing called Music.

Whether you start your day with a coffee and some music blasting out of your house/car or you have a favourite playlist for either your working or studying hours, music serves as a movie soundtrack but for our so real lives. Maybe we don’t always realise it, but it was in fact the first thing that taught us how to practice mindfulness, soothing both our overthinking brains and sometimes overemotional souls. Maybe that’s why we remember songs even better than music apps, but we can almost never remember those things our teacherssay we should remember from the previous year. I bet that now you have all these songs tangled up in your mind and you’re thinking about your all time favourites, as well as of all the songs you’ve been having on repeat for 2 weeks and especially that one song that always helps you get over heartaches and heartbreaks (whether they’re caused by your crush or by those cookies that you’ve been craving all day but haven’t found on the store’s shelf).

As a cliché as it may sound, there’s a song for almost anything and music helped us evolve, reflect, regroup and further create our various experiences and memories throughout time. It made communication a lot easier and it supported our aim to understand each other better when mere words failed us. But maybe the most remarkable part it plays is in having us discover ourselves and our needs at a deeper level. If you look back on your life, you might notice that some memories are strongly bound to a specific genre or even to a specific song. I am sure you know too well that feeling when a song randomly pops up on the radio and in a split second it brings back that one mood, that one flashback from a few days, months or even years ago. We sometimes time-travel when we press play, we disconnect from the real world, float back into the worlds inside our heads & face reality a little easier (and still get the day done as the awesome go-getters that we are).

And lastly, please remember that when choosing your playlist, just as choosing anything else that you consume, you are empowered to choose the ways of framing your mindset and your whole mood for the day, or at least for that very little moment in time, for that specific short scene of your cinematic life. Choose wisely, and don’t forget to always play the main character! :)

P.S.: You’re trying to pick up a song now, aren’t you?

// happy to have written this with lovely Marina Ilie
Christmas & Peace Education: 1914’s Truce by Football
Tags: Peace, Christmas, Christmas Truce, Christmas Day Truce, Peace Education

By Isti Toq’ah

Founder of PANDAI (Indonesia’s Peace Education / Pendidikan Damai Indonesia)

This story might come from the far land away from Indonesia which happened long long time ago. However, the peace value is for sure still and always relevant to be the lesson learned of any generation follows it. In the spirit of peace education, I believe:

"There is always human's face that shows humanity even in the darkest and most unlikely place, time, and event."

Actually Pope Benedict XV recommended to conduct a pause of war in time of Christmas celebration on 7th of December, 1914. This year was in time of World War I and December became the fifth month of the war. Sadly, this proposal refused officially. Later on, surprisingly the troops announced a truce unofficially on Christmas Eve. Both British and German soldiers sang Christmas carols to one another across their borders.

Beneath from their trenches, the German soldiers approached the British to come to an empty land by saying Merry Christmas in English. In the beginning, the British disbelieved and thought it was just a trick. But then, the British found the German were unarmed. They tried to leave their trenches and gave their hands to shake British's. This continued to be unexpected instant Christmas's celebration. They shared each other's cigarettes and plum puddings as Christmas presents. Next, they sang various songs and carols together.

Some German soldiers made Christmas trees surrounded their trenches. After that, the German and British also played football together.

"How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felts the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time," said Kurt Zehmisch, a German lieutenant.

Even though this kind of truce was hardly happened and never really repeated in the history, still, this event was heartening and showing how humanity was still likely to be present even in the most unlikely place, time, and event. At the end of the day, these soldiers were also humans who missed the warmth of Christmas spirit where usually the period when they gathered with their loved ones.

Among these soldiers, some of them were quite unhappy because they speculated the truce would undermine the spirit of fighting. They were afraid their fellows would forget their main goal to fight for their country. This kind of toxic nationalism and patriotism often misunderstood which led to the intoxication of humans' souls.

Though in many history along with peace and conflict studies books questioned, did these soldiers merely follow the orders instead of listen to their consciences? Did these soldiers just try to save their own lives plus their loved ones by following these orders? Yet, it's tragic the main option was by killing others. A few of them decided to help the "enemies" or "targets" even they had to sacrifice their lives just like in the movies "Sound of Music (1965)" and "Where Hands Touch (2018)."

Further reading:
Relaxation Takes Practice, Too
By: Cari Nazeer
Tags: Peace, Anxiety, Self, Mental Health, Relaxation

Photo: gollykim/Getty Images

Hear that? No? Exactly. That’s the silence of a blissfully empty calendar: No meetings, no deadlines, nowhere to be. For the next few days, your only project is to relax. Kick back with a puzzle and a hot mug of something. Oh, and try not to let all that downtime drive you up the wall.

An open expanse of time seems great, in theory. In practice, though, doing nothing and actually enjoying it is a skill that a lot of us just don’t have. As Madison Malone Kircher has explained in Forge, up to half of adults have experienced something called “relaxation-induced anxiety,” where “the very physical sensations you might associate with being calm — letting your shoulders drop, deep breathing — are triggers.” You may find that a fully plan-less long weekend has you mentally building to-do lists, finding excuses for errands… anything to get me off the dang couch, for the love of god, please no more puzzles.

It’s okay. As with any skill, getting better at relaxing requires some time and effort. Mindfulness helps, Kircher notes. So does patience.

During this quiet holiday time, try quieting your mind, too. Push any nagging thoughts of I should be doing something out of your head by focusing on the details of your surroundings: the feel of the blanket on your lap, the dramatic background music on whatever trashy show is playing. The next day, find a time to do it again. Eventually, you’ll be able to slide effortlessly into that peaceful state of nothingness. And in the meantime, well, think of your relaxation regimen as something to do.
Upgrading our outlook, vision
By: Zsolt Hermann
Tags: Perception, Peace, Education, Connection, Vision

An opinion from the internet about avoiding wars, conflicts by getting to know each other:

“I think it is possible to avoid the present hostilities, conflicts, wars by getting to know each other beyond the fake news, distorted reporting, purposeful incitement we are brainwashed by all around the globe.”

I agree with you. The only way to rise above the hate sown against others in the world, the only way to overcome our instinctive distrust, animosity feel towards “others” who are different from us is to get to know each other, to try to see reality through the desires, needs, viewpoints of others.

It is not as easy as it sounds as the instinctive resistance of our inherently self-justifying, subjective nature is very strong. But with the right upbringing, education, and appropriate social influence, we can achieve this new state of being: purposefully, methodically trying to experience reality through others.

This is not simply a way to avoid wars.

Imagine the exponential increase in scope, resolution regarding what we can see, taste, attain by changing an inherently narrow, egocentric, subjective vision to a multi-angled, “holographic” vision?!
The Power in Learning How to Take a Punch
By: Mindful Musings
Tags: Peace, Adversity, Struggle, Broken Front Teeth

Self-reflection aside, I tell that story to highlight how rarely I’ve ever had to resort to physicality to resolve my issues; thanks to my general risk aversion as a kid and ability to talk myself out of almost anything, I avoided the fight with a friend or reckless injury that most young boys experience. The closest I ever got to breaking a bone was when I fell off my driveway’s 6-foot retaining wall when I was 12/13, which gave me nothing more than a few scars on my elbows and knees. I also had a pretty nasty MCL sprain when playing basketball my Freshman year of college, but that was more an inconveinance than anything painful.

That being said, I’ve always been curious about what it would be like to get seriously hurt. I’m a big believer that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and watching MMA fighters take such extreme bodily damage in a match only to come back later that year to do it all again birthed an itch in me that I could never really scratch. I’ve even imagined more than a few times how I would react if say, that random person to my left, suddenly took a swing at me. Secretly, I’ve always wanted to get in a fight to see how I would hold up. I’ve never, however, gotten in a fight on purpose just to see what it would feel like.

Well, over the Thanksgiving holiday, my time finally came, shockingly exactly how I had imagined it happening. I was on the subway with my friend on our way back from Brooklyn when a guy threw me a quick left hook to the face as I was getting ready to leave the train. I couldn’t tell you why it happened, but it happened. I won’t go into details too much for the sake of avoiding unnecessary goriness (and the ongoing police report), but it was crazy. Thankfully my friend was there with me and we got to an urgent care clinic right as they were closing to get my lip stitched, and my recovery hasn’t been much more than a fair amount of reverse commuting back to Long Island to see my dentist and some antibiotics and pain killers.
“Love the Humans and Serve the Humans.This must be the slogan of every human”.
By: Syed Rizwan Ali Zaidi
Tags: Peace, Humanity, Respect, Reality, Courage

“Love the Humans and Serve the Humans.

The Life

The life is not the name of hate.

The life is the name of love.

The life is not the name of cruelty.

The life is the name of sympathy.

The life is not the name of defeat.

The life is the name of victory.

The life is not the name of deceive.

The life is the name of sincerity.

The life is not the name of noise.

The life is the name of silence.

The life is not the name of grief.

The life is the name of happiness.

The life is not the name of hopelessness.

The life is the name of hope.

In fact, the life is the name of true death.

If you are a sincere, kind and sympathetic human then you will love other humans and all the living things with your soft heart, and other humans will love you from bottom of heart. You will create respect, honour and dignity in hearts of other humans. When you will die then you will always remain alive in hearts and prayers of all humans. This is called true death.”ALWAYS LOVE THE HUMANS AND SERVE THE HUMANS”.

Written by,

Syed Rizwan Ali Zaidi
What was God thinking?
By: Center For Peacemaking
Tags: Peace, Christmas, Cooperation, Religion And Spirituality

Nativity scene. Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay.

What was God thinking?

*Originally written in 2011. Food insecurity statistic updated to reflect 2020.

After four weeks of Advent awaiting the coming of the Savior, December 25th can leave us a bit puzzled, if not disappointed.

We need a savior — it doesn’t take much in the way of spirituality to figure that out. We just need to look at the “signs of the times.” With a government pledged to “perpetual war,” and more and more wealth taken from the needs of the many to benefit the very few (and yes, those two facts are related), with ongoing environmental degradation, and with nearly one in every six people living in the US now “food insecure,” our world, our country needs some serious saving.

But what do we get on Christmas day? Not a team of expert economists, not a super committee of legislators, not a war council or a national security organization, but a baby — an infant (root meaning: “can’t talk”), someone insecure, vulnerable and needing assistance, not offering it. What was God thinking?

Here’s part of an answer: about a generation ago, just about all the major paleontological scientists gathered at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. They brought their prized fossils with them. After a week of discussion and analysis, they determined that it was cooperation, not competition, which led to the development of the human race. And what was the catalyst for that cooperation? Babies.

The “problem” with human babies is that they’re dependent for so long. It’s years before they can “run with the pack.” So the early humans had to develop “base camps” (discovered by Richard Leakey and Glynn Isaac) where the women could nurse and care for the babies. The men would go out and bring back the resources to share with the women and children. That in itself is unique: humans are the only hominids who share; apes forage for themselves.

And then everyone had to report on their day. Language, teachers, and education became necessary. Further, a sprained ankle was no longer a fatal injury. The disabled human could stay in the base camp until he recovered enough to hunt and gather again. What made the human hominids powerful, then, was not their ability to dominate or to develop superior weaponry. It was their sharing communities, their superb cooperation and, because of their babies, their exceptional capacity for taking care of the weak and vulnerable.

So when it came time — and it seems to come around each year — for us to need a savior who had to recall us to our lost sense of common humanity, it makes sense after all that God would send a baby.

In our care for the vulnerable and oppressed, and in our pledge to the power of nonviolence, we can together share every day in the supreme project of the God of Peace, begun on Christmas so many years ago.
Prayer to Nature from the Priestess of the Temple of Broken Wisdom
By: Teresa D Hawkes
Tags: Peace, Spirituality, Prayer, Nature, Priestess

What is the one doorway we could close to keep the violent, aggressive, and cruel from ruling our societies into the dismal future?

This is the doorway I implore Nature to close.

Door as it closes.

For the Good of All. Let this Door Close.

What is that door? Woman’s womb…and if that is not the right doorway, for the sake of mercy, compassion, and justice, please close whichever doorway is. Thank you.
7 Ways We Can Change the World Into a Loving One
By: Tatiana Santana
Tags: Peace, Kindness, World, Love, Self Improvement

Take-Aways

Love each other, build a world for your children and their children. Something you would want them to live in, not something full of hatred and conflict, instead of something full of love and honor, something full of beauty, grace, and mercy. Show someone a little kindness and respect, if you are a believer in God remember to love your neighbor and love yourself while you are at it! We are all the same inside, treat people the way you want to be treated, it is the golden rule for a reason.

I hope you benefit and enjoy this, it has been laying heavily on my heart and mind. These 7 ways will go far in making the world a better place and while you are at it, I believe it will bring you inner peace and bliss for having made the world a better place!

If you enjoyed this, maybe you will enjoy this one as well.
Recent Arab-Israeli Peace Deals Are Steps Toward Cultural Peace
By: Camera On Campus
Tags: Peace, Arab, Palestine, Middle East, Israel

By Sean Culley, 2020–2021 CAMERA on Campus Fellow

Photo: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem/Wikimedia Commons

Israel has recently negotiated peace deals to normalize relations with several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan. Resolutions in both houses of Congress supporting the deals with the UAE and Bahrain had widespread bipartisan support, and the deals are a crucial step towards a widespread acceptance of Israel’s existence by its neighbors. U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has even said that the accords can “change things in the Middle East for the next 100 years.”

Contrast this with Noura Erakat, a professor at Rutgers and formerly at Mason, who wrote in an article for NBC News that the agreements are a “charade” and perpetuate “oppression.”

Professor Erakat surmises that the true motive of the recent peace deals is to provide “the military, financial and diplomatic infrastructure to further repress popular struggles for democracy and freedom in the Middle East,” but this is baseless. In reality, the agreements are meant to cement Israel’s place in the Middle Eastern family of nations. Since the Jewish state’s creation in 1948, it has been regionally isolated, with most Muslim-majority countries refusing diplomatic relations. Only in 1978, after decades of hostility and war, did the first Arab country, Egypt, normalize relations with Israel. The Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt recognized the sovereignty of each respective state and promised de-escalation.

Click here to read the rest on the CAMERA on Campus blog
Buddhism Day by Day: Peace & Culture are one
By: Adam, Diabetic Cyborg
Tags: Peace, Buddhism, Poetry, Culture, Prose Poem

“Peace and culture are one. A genuinely cultured nation is a peaceful nation and visa versa. When conflicts multiply, culture wanes and nations fall into a hellish existence. The history of the human race is a contrast between culture and barbarity. One culture is a force strong enough to put and end to the conflict and lead humanity in the direction of peace.”

Credit Daisaku Ikeda for the quote.
Always wondered and still wondering the meaning of life (finally leaving our loved ones and what we…
By: Venkatesh K
Tags: Peace

Always wondered and still wondering the meaning of life (finally leaving our loved ones and what we love to do). Sometimes a lifetime is not enough but that final moment of Sam and his words teaches about contentment, making peace, pure love. He now lives amongst us through these words, feelings and emotions.
Reality Checking Mindset.
By: Rehman Cee
Tags: Peace, Mindset, Being Eternal, Hope, Reality Checking

It takes hard work to build mindset. It’s not easy. Mindset. Building mindset is not easy. But it is not difficult either. It is thought. Mindset is thought. And how we cultivate thought. So it is different but not difficult. What mindset involves is thinking. Reflecting. At the highest level it represents reasoning. Your frames of reasoning. The motivation may be emotional. But the computation is rational. From a truth. A deep seated truth. Of what is true in the world. Of what is true in the entirety of the universe. That truth is on clarity. And clarity is on surrender. And surrender is a thought. An awareness. An effort. A syncing into. What is. What is called reality checking. Truth.

This is real, people. What is real? Life. Life is real and we ain’t going no where. And if that is true then it behoves us to get a mental check. A reality check. A mindset check. For what we are here for.

Live. Love. Be.

Rehman

Greatness is my journey

Greatness is the key

Greatness is my signal

Greatness is who I want to be.

I want to be One.

Greatness is the Signal. The signal is My Ideal. My ideal is One.