This Sunday is International Day of Peace. The United Nations created this holiday in 1981, and in 2002, they declared it a permanent holiday. Every year, on September 21, the UN urges peace for all people and the cessation of hostilities across the globe.
Some people love the UN, some people hate it, but regardless of your opinions and your politics, this seems like a holiday we can all get behind.
I don’t have control over national military groups; I can’t halt attacks or call a cease-fire. What I can do, however, is try to promote peace where I am.
- I can be more tolerant of people on the road.
- I can communicate calmly and rationally instead of with sarcasm and hostility.
- I can pray that all people around the globe find peace and that the violence permanently ends.
Recommendations from the UN:
- Visit the United Nations in New York City.
- Plant a peace tree.
- Attend a peace rally.
- Light a candle at dusk in support of world peace.
- Practice peaceful resolution and problem-solving skills in your daily interpersonal interactions.
“It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, and help people forge more just, inclusive and peaceful societies.” – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the 100-day countdown message to the International Day of Peace.
For Writers:
Fiction surges forward when we introduce conflict, stagnates when everything is harmonious. However, the quest for peace can be filled with strife, making the peaceful resolution (or climax) that much more satisfying.
Don’t let your fiction flounder because everyone is calm, rational, and diplomatic. Instead, introduce several problems, so that when they are all conquered the resolution and subsequent peace has the impact you’re hoping for.
For Everyone:
No one lives perpetually in a state of serenity and calm. But it’s something we can all strive toward. I hope you all have a peaceful International Day of Peace.
Hopefully someday peace won’t just be a day we commemorate, but it will be a way of life. (click to tweet that)
How do you think you’ll celebrate Peace Day? Do you have any suggestions? Let’s talk about it here.
Staci I wish there was more peace in the world and I wish you peace and joy for this special day. I guess if we teach our children it a small attempt at reaching for a peaceful world. If every parent talked about it maybe we could achieve more.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Kath. Like so many things, this message really needs to start at home and be reinforced not just with words, but with actions. Great point.
I will pray for peace as well. I pray for peace in my life and world every day so this will be no different. I see no harm in designating a day where we all become conscious because it might just overflow into our daily lives. Thank you for a thoughtful post.
It really was no different for me, either. I pray for peace (personal and global) everyday, too. Maybe some other people got on board, though. I don’t think you can ever have too much prayer, especially for such a good cause.
Like you, I can pray for peace, be more tolerant of other drivers, and respond with compassion and caring. If everyone made even one of these things a daily habit, the world would be a better place.
Blessings!
Here’s hoping the world gets behind the peace movement. Maybe with extra focus on the topic, more people will consider peace as the only and proper conclusion.