We are peace

We are joy
World is joyful

We are love
World is loving

We are hope
World is hopeful

We are peace
World is peaceful

Happy New Year everyone!

(Ron Cooper)

The rose

The rose brings wonder to all who embrace it, who see in it youthful freshness even when the bloom is gone and the scent is faint. The rose is as much of a symbol as a reality, and strikes deep into the tenderness of the human spirit. The rose is the spirit that loves beauty and the soul that craves perfection.

The rose shall never die.

--By Ron Cooper

Potential

Energy is finite, potential is infinite.

--By Ron Cooper

Sunshine

It feels good to give.

I like to choose a single word and build a poem or story around it. Today, I asked my waitress to tell me her favorite word. It was "sunshine." Seeing her light up in saying "sunshine" sparked my creativity.

I wrote:

"Sunshine, nature's smile, peeks through the darkened day, lighting up my world. The sun shines if only for a glorious moment. The gathering clouds may swallow up the welcome rays but, determined, the sunshine reappears and defeats the gloom. Welcome, sunshine!"

I gave the waitress the poem as I got up to pay my bill.

It feels good to give.

--By Ron Cooper

Be a peacemaker

• Be kind: Rewind your love
• Hug thy neighbor!
• Budge from a grudge
• Like, don’t strike
• Love, don’t shove

--By Ron Cooper

8 tips for successful living

To be successful at living:

1. Tap into a positive pool of energy.
2. Love like there's no tomorrow.
3. Make service second nature.
4. Appreciate good health and good company.
5. Revel in your spirit.
6. Laugh.
7. Create peace in your little corner of the world.
8. Forge a legacy.

--By Ron Cooper
Dedicated to the memory of Uncle Kenny Kuhn
(1937-2010)

The power

What power we wield.

The power to be harsh, or gentle.

The power to be critical, or supportive.

The power to be secretive, or sharing.

The power to belittle, or inspire.

The power to be selfish, or love.

How are we using our power?

Smiles

Smiles are a universal language—and speak volumes to the grateful soul!

--By Ron Cooper

A perfect ending

As the day closes, we all take stock. And some days, our internal tape recorders play back negative things.

“I accomplished nothing today.” “He gave me grief.” “She hurt my feelings.”

But I have a friend who closes her day in a perfectly serene way—with simple gratitude.

Here’s what she wrote recently:

“Every day I see or hear something that inspires me to be a better person. Today, it was a friend who took time to share and encourage, a woman who showed incredible grace and dignity in the face of disappointment, and a stranger whose actions said ‘I am indeed my brother's keeper.’”

Perfect.

Serene.

Grateful.

What are you thinking about tonight?

--By Ron Cooper

(Your comments are welcome!)

How many miles?

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

In 45 years behind the wheel, I’ll bet that I’ve racked up a staggering 540,000 miles—based on the U.S. national average of 12,000 miles a year.

That’s the equivalent of going 21.6 times around the earth!

“Wow, what an accomplishment!” I first thought. I even started to feel a little cocky.

But then I started to wonder. How many of those miles went:

• To visit the sick?
• To feed the hungry?
• To cheer up someone feeling down?
• To run a chore for a shut-in?

How many were devoted:

• To community service?
• To the cause of peace?
• To promote racial harmony?
• To work for equality?

I’m not bragging any more because, well, I have no ready answers.

How about you?

--By Ron Cooper

Scatter these throughts throughout your day (4)

• Hug, don’t hit
• Build harmony at the office
• Don’t hate, cooperate
• Preach tolerance
• Hate poisons the soul
• Love embraces your life
• Don’t berate, collaborate

--By Ron Cooper

Scatter these thoughts throughout your day ! (2)

Be part of mankind—
Be kind to man!

Quiet your mind
Relish your soul

Hatred: Love gone astray
Love: Hatred in disarray

Be purposeful
Be peaceful


--By Ron Cooper

Scatter these thoughts throughout your day!

Encourage the goodness in someone, and you will be repaid with a hospitable heart.

Caring counts!

Eliminate the madness

Accentuate the gladness

Labels divide us

Harmony unifies us

--By Ron Cooper