Happy 2015 dear friends!
I have started 2015 in my hometown, and as I came back to Paris I was absorbed by some violent, but also some very solidary actions of the citizens in this beautiful city!
In order to start this blog-year well, I found out a petition on line, that corresponds to my beliefs: let’s promise to show Kindness, Respect, Wisdom and Gratitude the whole year! I have signed up, and in case any one would like to join, you will find the link at the end of the post. But I guess practicing is more important than signing 🙂
Three Principles for 2015
Show Kindness and Respect
We will show kindness and respect towards ourselves and others whenever possible. And it’s always possible, because everyone we meet is fighting a battle we may know nothing about.
Strive for Wisdom
We will seek to be wise in our decisions, listening deeply to ourselves and others, and balancing our heads, hearts and intuitions in a harmony that feels right.
Practice Gratitude
We will regularly reflect on what we’re grateful for, because it brings perspective, dissolves negativity, and grounds us in what’s most important.
Our community has overwhelmingly voted for these 3 simple, powerful principles to support each other to follow in 2015. Join thousands of others in this New Year’s pledge to ourselves, and then share stories and insights from our “journeys within” on a live chat tool. When 500,000 of us pledge, we’ll invite world leaders to personally join us, and we’ll all check in 3 times this coming year to see how we’re doing.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/three_principles_loc/?fpla
Reblogged this on Far from Grey Street….
Continued success with this wonderful goal.
So often in helping others we forget ourselves.
May the solidarity of peace come from and belong to all.
Thank you dear Jules! I wish you all the best with your beautiful art!
Wonderful! This is a great place you found! Keep us posted, please.
Thank you dear Erika, I will definitely do! Happy 2015 to you and your inspiring blog! I
Thank you, same to you! 💖
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I simply love your work my friend… I look forward to it every day for strength, perspective and honesty. Merci beaucoup
Thank you so much!
My friend, I thought that these principles were known for centuries. What changed in 2015?
You are so right, but we seem to forget them from time to time, so just a small reminder in the form of a new year resolution 🙂
Amen! Perhaps they have been known since the beginning of time but this world needs these qualities now more than ever before… press on with kindness, respect, wisdom & gratitude 🙂
ah! Greetings! I’m also a member of avaaz (have been for over a year). I signed up for these too. It’s a great idea!
I agree practicing these three principles would render one a better citizen, a better neighbor, but the tricky part, in my experience, regards the kindness and respect, which, when we are receiving kindness and respect, comes naturally, but when we are being treated cruelly or indignantly is not only challenging, but confusing. We must respect ourselves so how do we address another who disrespects us?
The Dhammapada opens with the immortal words:
“He reviled me! He struck me!
He defeated me! He robbed me!”
They who gird themselves with this
Fail to quell enmity.
….
Not by enmity is enmity quelled…
by the lack of enmity is enmity quelled.
And Jesus’ “turn the other cheek,” has become a slogan that in 4 words summarizes the morality of non-aggression … as his saying, “resist not evil.”
Nevertheless, realistically, or in daily lived life, we find that enmity does quell enmity, and resisting evil does purge it.
Recall Nietzsche’s words, “But if you have an enemy, do not requite him evil with good, for that would put him to shame. Rather prove that he did you some good. And rather be angry than put to shame. And if you are cursed, I do not like it that you want to bless. Rather join a little in the cursing….a little revenge is more human than no revenge.”
And this would bring me to the central metaphor I attempt to live by: the glowing mirror. Reciprocate how others treat you, as a mirror reciprocates, but be a degree gentler, and move it in the direction of betterment, the three virtues you mentioned, kindness, wisdom, gratitude.
Merci for visiting 24/7 in France, author of “Solitary Desire-One Woman’s Journey to France” (video http://youtu.be/xG_YTa5sDac) and founder of Le Bal des Courtisans