During a cross-roads experience in my early thirties, I was introduced to an elderly woman who was respected in the community for her wise insight. On a whim, I asked if she had time to hear my story and offer me her perspective. She graciously agreed.
After I outlined my situation, she took my hands, looked me in the eye, and said simply,
“Follow the peace.”
The advice stunned me. At the look on my face, she continued, “Don’t get distracted by all the chaos. There’s a thread of peace that runs through everything. Find it and follow it.” I’ve carried this tidbit as a guiding light ever since.
Peace has led me in some surprising directions. Sometimes I’ve found the greatest peace in the eye of a storm. Sometimes I’ve lost the thread of peace and had to go looking for it again. Sometimes I’ve mistaken passivity for peace and had to relearn what real peace is.
In fact, in 2020, I became so confused about what “peace” actually means that, by the end of the year, I had to simplify further and learn to follow the Yes. What makes a resounding “Yes” bubble up from the deepest part of me? I’m going with it – no matter how logical all other options are and no matter who wants me to choose them.
I’ve come to believe that the best way to promote a peaceful world is to 1) find and follow the peace for yourself and 2) teach young people to find and follow the peace for themselves. To this end, I practice unschooling and peaceful parenting and create education resources designed to make these concepts more accessible to all.
If this philosophy resonates with you, I invite you to stick around. Read my professional development posts, explore my education resources, and connect with me. Let’s work together to find and follow the peace.
