Girls living in poverty are uniquely capable of creating a better future. But when a girl reaches adolescence, she comes to a crossroads. She either get a chance, gets educated, stays healthy and HIV negative, marries when she chooses, raises a healthy family, and has the opportunity to raise the standard of living for herself and those around her. Or not.
Check out the facts in this video.
I noticed a few weeks ago that one of the tires on our car looked a little flat. I stopped at the gas station to put air into it. The tire was not inflating no matter how much air was flowing into it. After a visit to the tire store, it turned out to be a bad valve on the tire.
The car manual states that inflating car tires with the correct amount of air is essential for maximizing gas mileage and ensuring even tire wear. So the same goes for maintaining the balance of spirit, mind and body. If we sustain a constant relationship with our spiritual practice (meditation, journaling, prayer, spiritual mentoring, etc) we are able to retain a peaceful mind and ease in our daily activities.
Do you ever have one of those days when it feels like you’re moving through cement trying to get something done? That’s a good indication of being out of spiritual balance. Our once peaceful experience leaks out and the body feels deflated, lacks energy and getting anything accomplished feels like mission impossible. Stress builds in the body and doubt creeps into the mind.
Doubt can show up like a bad valve in our thinking. No matter how many positive affirmations, prayers or good thoughts we have in the moment, doubt is a slow leak that can leave us drained, diminished and discouraged. Tire pressure is measured in PSI, or pounds per square inch. Spiritual balance can be measured in DDP or daily dedicated practice. As we maintain our practice we leave little room for doubt or uncertainty to take hold.
The flat tire reminded me that while traveling the often rough, bumpy road of life that it is important to take the time to maintain spiritual balance. It can boost our faith and keep the wheels of life moving with ease and grace.
I’ve been working with forgiveness for the past few weeks. Mother Theresa said, “If we really want to love, we must learn how to forgive.” I noticed how limited I am when I have separation with another in my life.
It is easier to forgive when I learn to reflect and not react. Reacting to behavior of others causes stress and pain.
Dr. Wayne Dyer stated it best, “How do you get world peace? You get world peace through inner peace. If you’ve got a world full of people who have inner peace, then you have a peaceful world.” I’m practicing.
I noticed I’ve been resisting writing lately. I checked within to see what was holding me back. Someone commented on a piece I wrote recently and I felt judged. So I wanted to play it safe and not feel judged again, so I’ve resisted writing anything at all. I wasn’t even aware of how much their comment affected me. I shared the experience with my husband and he said, “Stop acting like a girl and write.” I love my in-home therapist. He knows just how to give me a gentle kick in the pants. He’s so cool!
Bill Moyers Journal is featuring Leymah Gbowee and Abigail Disney this Friday, June 19th on PBS.
Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a documentary about a group of ordinary Liberian women who managed to stop the country’s 14-year civil war. The documentary tells the story of Gbowee, a mother of five, who realized the war kept her children in poverty their entire lives. She took action with street marches and prayer vigils and created a movement that stopped the civil war.
What an extraordinary example of what we can do and how every action can make a difference in the world.
http://www.praythedevilbacktohell.com/v3/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-The-Devil-Back-To-Hell/10831840869