Vision and
Community in Health Care.
Crafting a future
where "Community", a group of
people with a common purpose and
agreement of goals, and
"Neighborliness" are the
cornerstone of a more effective
health care system. Because it
takes people working together to
make institutions become more
productive, developing their full
potential in a more
cost-effective way.
I have, on
occasion, watched the children's
show Mr. Rogers. I enjoy the song
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" and
intrigued by the many ways Mr.
Rogers finds to give his young
listeners awareness that they
have more than themselves to
consider as well as shows them
how to plant seeds which will one
day create a friendlier world.
Neighborliness at a global or
institutional level dissolves
racism, embraces diversity,
restores harmony, diffuses border
conflicts, unites people and more
over… transforms our planet
in ways we can only begin to
imagine.
The benefits of
interrelationships can be found
everywhere in nature. If a
carpenter joins two pieces of
wood together, they will hold
much more weight that the total
held by each one alone. In the
humane sphere, our challenge is
to create ways to apply the
creative cooperation and unity we
learn from nature, in dealing
with our own institutional and
community challenges.
A healthy
community has it sense of where
to go and how to include every
member in this process. Everyone
will have the opportunity to
contribute, to influence events
and outcomes. A productive
balance between individual
interest and group
responsibilities. We are talking
about valuing human diversity and
empowering people to a more
active future-focus role.
All these concepts
sound so wonderful, but how to
initiate this transformation
right now? I would like to
propose three very simple and
powerful ways to initiate this
transformation; The Chapter For
Peace, The Peace Corner and The
Bench of Dreams.
The Chapter For
Peace. (
www.goodmorningworld.org/chapterforpeace
)
This is a
community-based program that does
not report to anyone, and it is
not affiliated with any
particular organization or
religious group.
What changes in
our neighborhood or community are
necessary to invite PEACE to join
our daily lives?
The Chapter For
Peace has their own by-laws if
its members consider this
necessary. Otherwise, the Chapter
For Peace will function according
to the voice, needs, ideas, and
priorities of its members. All
the good we do must come from our
own initiative as a group.
All our actions
and thoughts, will define the
concept and dimension of PEACE in
our community. If we want PEACE
in our neighborhoods and
communities, what is it that we
really want? What needs to be
present for PEACE to exist?
PEACE... an open
dialog. A simple way of life in
our community to create a culture
of peace, non-violence,
reconciliation, acts of kindness,
etc.
You as a
peacemaker, can help to spread
the message that each and every
one of us can contribute, in a
very special way, to enjoy a more
peaceful world. Peace is a
process that does not end, and
that begins with YOU.
We hope to combine
creative minds and free spirits
with people that want to make a
difference in their own
communities, where simplicity,
love and kindness are a way of
life.
The Peace
Corner.
Create a corner,
perhaps called "Peace Corner" to
provide a special place for
people to cultivate inner peace
and to connect. A bulletin board
with poems, uplifting thoughts,
quotes, cartoon characters,
symbols, affirmations, photos,
etc. All members of the community
are invited to submit information
to express their own concepts of
PEACE.
Recognize the
interdependency of all beings;
humans, animals, plants, earth.
Build bridges and not walls. Show
that you care. Focus one-on-one
attention; increasing
opportunities for social
interaction. See work as a way to
serve.
The Bench of
Dreams. (
www.goodmorningworld.org/bench
)
The first "Bench
of Dreams" was conceived by
Robert Muller, former Assistant
Secretary-General of the United
Nations, Chancellor Emeritus of
the University for Peace. The
original "Bench of Dreams" is
located at the base of Mt. Rasur,
near the University For Peace in
Costa Rica. Visitors are asked to
place a pebble or stone in each
hand, press the two hands
together, and with eyes closed,
to dream. When opening the eyes,
one stone is tossed onto the
Earth, so that the sacred Earth
and the natural forces of the
universe will start working to
materilize the dream, and the
other stone is taken home as a
reminder of the dream and the
commitment we made to do all
possible to live our dream and
see it coming true. There are now
hundreds of "Benches of Dreams"
throughout the world.
This is how it
works:
Select two small
stones. Hold them close together
and dream your dream. When you
see your dream clearly, put one
stone into your pocket to take
with you. Toss the other stone
into the garden. Hold your dream
in your heart, even as the Earth
holds it
All these
wonderful programs are endorsed
by Robert Muller, and I can help
you plan and implement them in
your community.
I would like to
leave you with a wonderful poem
that summarizes our heart desires
for a more peaceful and better
world for everyone. I DREAM you
decide to be part of this
marvelous transformation.
- If you want your dream to
be
- Take your time go
slowly
- Small beginnings
- Greater ends
- Heartfelt work grow
slowly
-
- If you want to live like
free
- Take your time go
slowly
- Do a few things but do
them well
- Simple joys are holy.
-
- Day by Day
- Sun by Sun
- Build your secret
slowly
-
- Peace be with you.
-
- Kathy Ward
- Cell: (240) 393-5456
- connection@kathyjward.com
- www.kathyjward.com
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