All I Want For Christmas Is…
December 24, 2009
Is that really so much to ask?
Aren’t we “there” yet? Haven’t we figured out by now that there are no winners in war?
Because we love our countries, our people, our children, and our future, we need to find ways to come together. We claim to be so smart, so technologically advanced, so connected and enlightened and informed… and yet, we still solve conflicts using methods that are thousands of years old. Sure, the weapons are fancier, but the process is no less barbaric.
We can do better. I’m sure of it.
I don’t know exactly how to make this happen yet, but I know it starts with me, a simple mom. The first step in this process is finding, and connecting with others who also view the world through a lens of love and compassion. Thanks to the Internet, helping each other help others is easier than ever.
“If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.†(HHDL)
“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.†(MLK)
That’s it… Peace is the ONLY thing on my list this year.
I would like to thank Brenda for sharing the Charter For Compassion in the comments below. Now I have a direction, a starting point, a movement to be a part of. If you have a moment, check it out.
Need proof that anything is possible? Read this story of an 11-year-old who raised $26,000 in eight days to help a Ukrainian orphan.
What about YOU?
What do you wish for this holiday season?
By the way, if you leave a comment, please share what country you are in.
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I was just watching a movie on TV at lunch time and was thinking the exact same thing. Why can’t we have peace?
I think that most people in the world desire peace, but are fearful of fighting for it.
In America, if a soldier wants to pull out of Iraq because he knows it’s an illegal and immoral war, then he will be called a traitor, deserter and unpatriotic. He’ll be punished.
I wish we could all realize the truth in the definition, “Patriotism is the belief that your country is better than others because you were born there.”
(China)
Yeah! I wonder the same thing. Why aren’t we there yet? I see people fighting and think, why? It is so pointless. And it wastes energy! It’s time, we are ready for this!
Merry C to you Lisis and for keeping the awesomeness going!
(Sweden)
As an evolved people, might we someday get to that place where we find more humane ways of dealing with conflict? If love is at our core (which I do believe), then what really makes war the “right” answer for any side of any conflict? I guess I really have more questions than anything else…the bottom line, though – if we can get over greed – and focus back on love – the world would be such a more beautiful place…
(USA)
@ Gordie: That’s a very good point, about Patriotism. It’s one of those words I dislike because it can be used to mean whatever you happen to believe in. I cringe when I hear Sean Hannity compliment someone heroic (who happensn to agree with him) by saying he’s a patriot… or O’Reilley use it as the antonym of “Pinhead”. Sticks and stones people. We need to get past the semantics, past language barriers in general, and make this a GLOBAL effort… like International Space Stations and other cross-border collaborations.
@ Henri: To be honest with you, my great hope of having my wish fulfilled lies with the youth of today… like you. I see so many young bloggers and online entrepreneurs who seem to really “get” that we all live on the same rock and, because so much of their life happens online, their natural community is spread out across many countries. When enough “kids” get this, and when they start to be the ones making decisions for our countries, maybe we can stop playing this no-win game. I know, since I started blogging, my international virtual community has become as real (maybe more so) than the folks in my physical vicinity. You, my dear, are one of “my people”… as is Gordie, in China… and Zeenat, in India… and Christopher, in Zambia… and Alex, in South Africa…
War (and all violence, really) is an expression of fear. At the root of all conflict is the seed of fear – fear of being hurt, fear of losing what you have, fear of not having enough. That fear leads one person (or one tribe, one community, one nation) to aggression against another, in the hope that the fear can be alleviated, that the “danger” (whether real or imagined) can be avoided.
So as long as people are fearful, as long as the focus of the world is on a perceived “lack” of anything, there will always be conflict. The only way to prevent conflict is to provide peaceful answers to relieve people of the fear they feel. Only when everyone feels safe can we stop war.
So quoth Master Yoda: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
To conquer war, you must conquer fear.
And you’re right, Lisis. It starts with you and Hunter, me and Kyrie, and every parent with their own children. We must teach them to recognize their fears, acknowledge them, and move past them. We (all parents in the world) must teach our children not to react out of fear, but to act out of compassion and love instead.
(USA)
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by LisisMB, Jay Schryer. Jay Schryer said: A wonderful holiday wish by @Serene_Balance, A conversation about Peace: http://bit.ly/6kdvXk [...]
Hey, Lance and Jay! I love it that your comments complement each other. The answer, it seems, is to find a way to get people to act from a place of love and safety, instead of fear and anger.
Sounds idealistic… but not impossible when you consider the changing role of the media, which is the main source of fuel for our irrational fears. Newspapers are dying a slow death; news channels are no longer impartial or trustworthy; official information sources have been sterilized to the point that we have no idea whom to believe anymore. Maybe this is a good thing.
Back in the day when everyone read their morning paper and tuned in to the evening news, all sorts of propaganda was easily distributed and readily believed. But NOW we have fact checkers, smoking guns, instantaneous feedback, and direct communication around the world.
Maybe we can bypass the fear-mongers, connect with fellow Love, Peace, Compassion, Tolerance types, and become the only unified message out there? We all want something to believe in… why not the practicality of Peace?
Ahhhhhhhh ….. (that’s a heart felt cry without any idea what it actually means!).
I’ve come to believe that we already have peace. Love and peace are natural states and always there. It’s the disturbances that are the problem – the fear, the hate and the violence that comes as a doomed attempt to make the fear and thesubject of our hate go away.
Yes, starting with ourselves. Yes, starting with our kids. Onto our families, our neighbours, our colleagues, the strangers we pass on the street and then finally to the strangers we’ll never meet. It’s a simple choice – choose love instead of hate, peace instead of violence, calm instead of fear, acceptance instead of trying to change someone. It’s not rocket science. And it is possible. Even in our lifetime. We just have to do it.
(Poland and Romania)
Hey, Ian! Thanks for weighing in here. I know you are the Non-Violence Guru, so your very presence is greatly comforting to me.
I’ve always believed Peace and Love start with the individual, who then teaches those in his immediate vicinity (family, neighbors) by example. With more and more loving, compassionate groups, eventually we tip the scales in favor of progress.
But I wonder now, is that enough? It’s a necessary grass roots approach, but how do we keep from being this generation’s flower children? I am a hippie at heart, but how do we mobilize fellow hippies to finally make this happen? Are we sacrificing the forest for the individual trees? Let’s seal the deal already.
There needs to be a top – down component, in addition to cultivating individual seeds of peace. How do we make it RAIN LOVE all over the garden we have prepared?
It has to become about more than just me & mine, you & yours. I totally agree with you: “It’s not rocket science. And it IS possible.”
Hi, Lisis. I’m right there with Lance, Jay, Ian… In fact, Jay took the words out of my mouth. (LOL, yes, Jay, you were first!) …a perception of lack/fear driving away the inner knowing of peace.
As for your dilemma about actively change on a grand scale, I think there’s nothing wrong with flower children and grassroots evolution. In fact, I believe that’s how the greatest of change occurs! When people really believe and then live what they believe and that living is done so openly and bravely and cleanly…then others take notice, wonder what “they know that I don’t”, wonder what the secret is to their serenity… This is how the word is spread, from one person to another, one heart at a time. Then, there’ll be a moment when it all reaches a tipping point, when there will be more people actively living their belief in peace than those who do not. It’s all an evolution. Idealism is never out of style. In fact, it’s what gives the world hope. It’s what we pin our dreams on.
When we are each “raining love in our gardens,” and our blooms are the biggest, brightest, most fragrant, others will take notice. Do do much else would be a form of force, which is just a flavor of that which we oppose. I’m not talking about lying down and letting people trample all over our beautiful gardens; I’m just saying we can’t force anyone else to plant the same flowers we do.
I just adore your passion!
~ Julie
Sorry, forgot: USA.
Hi, Julie! I know you are right, particularly in your last statement: “We can’t force anyone else to plant the same flowers we do.” Therein lies my dilemma.
I firmly believe we ought to respect each other’s views and differences, and I blog about that all the time. And yet… so many people still believe violence is the way to resolve disputes. Acknowledging their right to believe that FEELS like surrendering my dream of the achievability of World Peace.
I do think it starts with us, and being a living example of the change we want to see in the world. But if it stops at that… will it ever really change? How are we different from the hippies in the 60’s who thought the time of spiritual change was upon them?
Costa Rica (where I’m from) is a 100% Neutral, Peace-loving country. They don’t even have a military of any sort… just cops, who I don’t think even work on evenings and weekends! Because of this, the bulk of government revenues gets poured into education and healthcare… safe, happy, healthy, literate people are positively productive people.
I really think, if we could stop fighting for a change (and WASTING all those resources,) we could solve all the troubles in the world. I can feel it in my bones… I just don’t know how to reconcile that with respecting another person’s right to resort to violent means.
Thanks for bringing that up, though… I need to think about that one some more.
For now, no wishes. Just happy to be back in the Love Bungalow!
(USA)
Thank you, Lisis, I enjoyed this post.
I totally agree that peace would be a wonderful gift for Christmas (or any other occasion or season), and that the process starts with each of us.
When I think about what it will take for me to have more peace in my life, I’m sure that it will not be a passive process. In fact, the peace I really want for myself and my world is something I must continue to fight for. Not a fight against others, but a fight within myself.
Jay explains that we must conquer our own fears. There’s certainly nothing easy about that. Part of my challenge is being open and honest with myself. Not only do I need to recognize and confront my own fears, but I also need to overcome my own hypocrisy. It’s easy to hate the strife and war between others. Yet when I peer deep within myself, I’m not convinced that I would do so differently from them given similar circumstances.
And so, I recognize that there is still much work for me to do to achieve true and lasting peace in my life. For these reasons, I wish for peace – but also for courage, honesty, compassion and tenacity – because peace (I believe) also needs these to prosper.
(USA)
Well, if I’d gotten three wishes for Christmas, they’d be:
1. Peace on Earth
2. Hayden back in her Love Bungalow
3. A visit from my dear friend Mike (I missed you!!!)
This is shaping up to be a brilliant Christmas already!
Having said that, Mike… we need to work on finding peace in your life. Maybe it would help to be open and honest with someone else (like me!) first… and then it will be easier to be honest with yourself. I know WAY more than I’d like to about internal conflicts and the battle that rages within. BRING IT, baby… I’m all ears (eyeballs, whatever).
In the meantime, I am sending you all the courage, honesty, compassion and tenacity I can muster (and deliver virtually).
Huge hugs, my dear!! Merry Christmas!!
Hey Lisis!
Peace is something to be experienced in oneself. All the destruction and disturbance of the peace that we see in the world around us – on the macro scale – is a result of the disturbance of the peace on the inside of individuals – on the micro scale. If everyone was peaceful in and of themselves, there’d be much more peace reflected in our environment. Instead, the destruction and strife we see around us is a reflection of the inner dissonance of many individuals – spiritually and mentally. We have to first find peace in ourselves, and then spread it throughout the world by giving others the ability to feel at peace.
Looking up at what I just wrote, I’ll have to say that’s the most spiritual and “woo-woo” I’ve ever sounded in my life. But, of course, I still stand by it. Find peace in oneself first, then spread the love. The problem is that it’s every individual’s responsibility to find peace in themselves first, and inevitably there will be many who do not find it. Since we can’t control them, however, we must let go.
As you know, I’m from the United States.
Thanks for writing a thought provoking post
A peaceful holiday to all… from the USA.
Hi Lisis,
Merry Christmas to you and yours! As for peace, I have often wondered why people cannot just get along. I think a lot of it has to do with fear and the lack of awareness that everyone (regardless of religion, race, and so on) basically wants the same things. A mother in America wants the same things for her children as a mother in Pakistan. They just look different.
I have to admit that since I am a product of a mixed religious home, I was raised with the belief that all religions and all people were one. My parents told me that I was free to pick whichever religion I wanted to follow.
So I never had any struggles with people being different since my parents were very liberal. However, other people had problems with me because my parents were immigrants. So tolerance is a big factor.
We have to be able to tolerate that some cultures just have different values and that it is not our place to say that their values are wrong. We have to accept our differences and find the common ground and that ground is far larger than we realize.
Apologies for this being so long. It is just a subject that is dear to my heart.
Hey Lisis – This is a frustrating topic for me. I find that many of the more peaceful peoples on this planet, the ones whose traditions and culture are engulfed in a peaceful attitude towards the world, are having their voices drowned out. For example, every time I visit India and spend time with Tibetans living in exile, it literally hurts to know that their deep-rooted belief in peace and the wisdom they have to share has become a faint (if that) whisper that few people pay attention to. I have heard such belief in peace labeled as ‘cute but non-relevant in today’s times.’
You’re exactly right, it does start with each one of us and as others have pointed out, it is not an easy task. But it is definitely not a goal that anyone should consider abandoning and I too hope that at some point down the road we witness a drastic change in our attitudes towards war and conflict.
But, Brett… if Peace on Earth starts with the individual finding peace within, and many individuals cannot or will not find peace within, are you saying Peace on Earth is not possible? (picture my heart breaking)
There was a time when people firmly believed that, “if man was meant to fly, he would have been born with wings… and he wasn’t, ergo, man will never fly.” The notion of overcoming the effects of gravity was just completely fantastic and idealistic. But some people believed it was possible anyway, and I am proof that they were right… against all odds.
If we “let go” and just give up on the idea as a silly, impractical notion, that’s exactly where it will stay. If it doesn’t have wings, I say, let’s BUILD THEM. But I’m not smart enough to do it on my own. I need an army of dreamers and problem solvers to work on something that benefits us all.
Just do me a favor and don’t “let go”… not yet. I’ll come up with something.
Oops…I’m in Mexico by the way!
@ Ali: Likewise, my dear!
@ Nadia: Tolerance (of each other’s differences) is a HUGE factor in this, and it’s a topic I have covered at length here and plan to do a LOT more of in 2010. I love the idea that we are each varied and unique, but we are also more the same than we are different. Somewhere in there lies the answer, I think. I know I can count you in as part of the peaceful revolution.
@ Earl: Yes… the Tibetans… and the Dalai Lama, after all that has happened to them, and he still is an advocate for, and firm believer in, PEACEFUL resolutions. And THAT is a wise man, who has seen a lot. If he believes it’s possible, I can easily believe it too. “Cute, but non-relevant,” huh? I can’t imagine anything more relevant than stopping the insanity of war.
Oh, and thanks for adding the country you are (currently) in!
Hey Lisis.
I would say that this is a bit much to ask for until the potential short-term benefits of engaging in the alternative are outweighed. On the other hand, you do bring up a good point here. Just like we do whatever we can to reduce motor vehicle driving accidents, we want to do the same to reduce these casualties of war, and the goal would be 0 casualties in this situation as well. Maybe war can be replaced with something that maintains human life and integrity.
Cool change-up of the standard Christmas message there.
(USA)
Thanks, Armen! You caught that, huh? I wanted to honor the spirit of the holidays, but make it about something MORE than what it tends to be these days. The picture of the wreaths at Arlington really brought it home for me. Those aren’t just stones in the grass… those were people, with families, and dreams, and their whole lives ahead of them, until they were called to go to war.
Now those brave and selfless men and women will have no more Christmases, and I have to wonder, “Why?!” Why can’t we use those huge armies of passionate volunteers to create, instead of destroy?
I can’t run for Commander in Chief, Armen. I wasn’t born in the States. I need a volunteer to take control of this mess. Something’s gotta give.
Merry Christmas, Sweet One!
Yes, it starts with each individual. And that’s all we have to worry about, to find our own peace, and rest follows.
Wonderful post.
Merry Christmas to you!
Hi, Kaushik! It’s great to see you here, as always. I wonder if the rest can follow all on its own? If a few of us, or even most of us find inner peace, will that eradicate war? Hm… I hope you are right.
Merry Christmas, K!
As an aside, I was just reading Einstein’s Out of My Later Years… looking for inspiration for something else, when I ran across this passage:
“We scientists, whose tragic destination has been to help in making the methods of annihilation more gruesome and more effective, must consider it our solemn and transcendent duty to do all in our power in preventing these weapons from being used for the brutal purpose for which they were invented.
What task could possibly be more important for us? What social aim could be closer to our hearts? That is why this Congress has such a vital mission. We are here to take counsel with each other.
We must build spiritual and scientific bridges linking the nations of the world. We must overcome the horrible obstacles of national frontiers.”
It mattered to him, and he was a fairly smart guy. Blurring the borders is the answer, which makes the Internet the perfect weapon against war.
Many of you are out there, traveling the world… not even sure which country you call “home.” And it makes no difference, because the World is your home… our home.
I know we can do it (Santa told me so).
I wish people feel the best they’ve ever felt, even if it’s for just a moment.
That’s a beautiful wish, J.D.! I know sometimes just that one moment of relief is all it takes to get the ball rolling in a more positive direction.
Thanks for sharing your wish with us (so we can wish it too!).
“I need an army of dreamers and problem solvers to work on something that benefits us all.”
I love this comment. Imagine an army of dreamers and problem solvers…all dreaming about tolerance (meaning not just “ok, whatever” but interest in, appreciation and respect for those who do/think/look/pray/speak/eat differently) , prosperity (meaning enough for all to be comfortably warm/well fed/medically and spiritually cared for-not wasteful wealth)…and then acting on those dreams…going beyond imagination to implementation…
I believe peace is possible not today, not tomorrow…but someday…maybe the the Peaceful Revolution will happen online, gradually reaching across borders and into each others hearts…I know, very dreamy…but all paradigm shifts must begin with dreams…and then the problem solvers must step in…so lets put on our thinking caps and be problem solvers too…and then activists and create the world we want to live in.
Thank you, Laura! That is exactly what I’m talking about… paradigm shifts begin with dreams… BIG DREAMS. And someone has to have them, and want them, and start doing something about them.
I love your positive attitude about the whole thing. Now I’m even more convinced than ever!
Merry Christmas, Lisis!
My son and I were talking about how Facebook promotes social identity and LinkedIn promotes business identity, but we have nothing to help us build and promote civic identity, or civic consciousness, which is I think what you are calling for in this post. He says a place where we can go to develop civic identity and ‘help each other help others’ is already the next big internet idea. Karen Armstrong’s Charter for Compassion is one example of efforts already underway to build civic consciousness and promote peace. Here’s a link to the Charter for Compassion. http://www.tedprize.org/karen-armstrong/
This subject of the human race at War will go on for some time, maybe forever. There are Countries and their Leaders who want to take more, more of everything. The point here is that the human race is not at fault as a group. The problem would be our leaders, mostly men with Egos and ambitions. Greed, Power, and all of the other things that the Ego and Fear drive.
As long as we have Hitlers and Other dictators with agendas we will have to defend our people and our freedoms. I only want peace, and 95% of the human race only wants peace, but our Leaders seem to always use the War lever as the solution to the problem outlined above. Prayer may be are only means to the end of this insane way of living:>) Namaste..
@ Brenda: THANK YOU for sharing that link with me. I have added it to the original post above so that more people can see it. That is precisely what I’m talking about… we have massively effective social networks and business networks, so why can’t we also have a civic network? I love it. I’ll be joining the Charter for Compassion, and finding other ways I can promote using the internet for the peaceful revolution, the blurring of borders.
@ Ray: I believe prayer, meditation, deep reflection, and mindful living are definitely vital components if we are ever to achieve peace. But there is also the issue of leadership. We can hold hands around the world and elect leaders who are diplomatic and compassionate, but we will still have to contend with the occasional Nutcase (Hitler, Idi Amin, etc.) Einstein called for a supra-national effort to deal with those sorts of issues… like a United Nations, but effective.
I’m not sure yet how to make that happen, but I’m 99% sure the solution will come from the internet. Just because humans have always resolved conflicts violently, does not mean they always have to. We can evolve. We can transcend our most primitive and vile instincts, when we realize it is in our own best interest to do so.
We need to believe it is possible, and pray for the wisdom, courage and strength to do what it takes to turn this dream into a reality.
Namaste, my friend.
Lisis,
Well that’s all I want for Christmas as well and I believe there are a lot more people like us who are beside themselves.
I’ve had two nephews in Iraq, one lost his hearing and the other had the job of bagging bodies and body parts. He had PTSD so bad he couldn’t do his next tour. They gave him a medical discharge and at the same time he receives no benefits or schooling they promised him. How sad is that?
I think we all need to take a lesson from Costa Rica and Jay’s wisdom about fear.
I’m checking out the other resources you suggest.
If you come up with any other ideas or answers count me in.
The one thing I do daily is remember peace begins with me.
The lovely, lovely Tess… who boldly goes where no blogger has gone before. I’m so thrilled (and not surprised) that you are to be counted in on our peaceful revolution.
I just signed the Charter for Compassion, and Jay said he signed it right after me, perhaps you’d like to sign too? It gives us a place to start, anyway.
I feel hopeful, Tess, I really do. I’ve seen Costa Rica focus on Peace, education, and protecting the environment. Now I’m living in Vermont, where every resident has access to free, fantastic health care. These seem like pie-in-the-sky ideas, but they have been put to work in individual states, and countries… the sample populations.
Now it’s time to spread those concepts to the larger community, the global community. And what better time to do it than when so many of us around the world are literally linked to each other through the Net. These relationships can do so much more than let a few people retire early, or be location independent.
We have an army of dreamers spread out around the world, yet linked to each other and sharing on a regular basis. If we can get around something together, I know we can make it happen.
I cannot imagine what your nephews have been through, and I don’t want anyone else to have to go through the same challenges.
We can do better.
Sweet Sweet Lisis,
Your words here today…are the words I tell myself every time I read hear or see the news….
Peace….a simple five letter word…but it can truly change the face of this planet we live on. War and peace are part of the same coin…the same planet we live on….yet so so different. One takes life and one gives life.
I have been wanting peace for so long….so so long lisis…I’ve lost count….I have stopped watching the news cause i cant see or hear of another bombing in Baghdad or atrocities on Palestinians or the plight of the poor in many many countries. I often break down and cant really function for quite sometime …..cause of this my hubby has moved the news channels to the end of the watching list on TV…
I pray i wish i hope….thats whats in my hands….spreading the message to pray for peace and love…spreading the message to BE peace and love….
I am so glad you shared the charter for compassion…am going to surely become part of this awesome movement…
For me Peace begins in our hearts and manifests in our actions….if you are in turmoil …so will your actions be destructive. My own little movement is to lovingly nudge one person at a time towards the miracle of love and peace….
I dont really have a wish list….but yes, if wishes had wings “peace and Love” are the 2 things i would wish upon this universe….
Merry Christmas and Happy New year to you and your family sweetie. Big Big Hugs
oops…I forgot…
City- Hyderabad 
I’m from INDIA
Hey, Beautiful Z! The lovely Peace and Love Ambassador representing Hyderabad… happy holidays, my dear!
You are one of the main reasons I started thinking this might actually be possible sooner than we think. I remember once you told me that my blog inspired you to start your blog. In that moment I realized that the things I do and say can have lasting effects far beyond anything I would have imagined. My blog may only have a few readers, but if it inspired you (and maybe a few others) to spread peace, love and compassion on their blogs, then my tendrils have extended beyond their initial reach. Then you inspire others, and so it is that one candle lights a thousand.
Times are changing, as many of us spend a significant amount of time online, with our virtual communities. News spreads in a matter of seconds. Ideas go viral, reaching millions of people. We could complain about it, and long for the good old days when life was slower and less plugged in. Or we can embrace it, and ride the wave, for whatever it’s worth, in a positive, productive direction.
Complaining won’t get us anywhere (I already tried that). Let’s find out what collaborating can do, instead.
Thank you for being on board with this blurring of borders project as it starts to take shape.
[...] The spirit of this post was inspired by the message of Peace that Lisis delivered in her post on her blog  Quest for [...]
Lisis,
As usual, your post is inspiring and wise.
Thanks!
I am convinced that violence never makes sense and I prepared my recent post,
http://read-y.com/?p=883
focused on this premise and inspired on your post.
My wish is that each one of us may be more aware of the blessings that Life provide us every day.
Calidos saludos desde Canada (Warm greetings from Canada)
Boris
Thanks, Boris (from Canada)! I’m so glad I got to be your muse again. I’m heading over to check out your new post now.
Take Care!
Lisis:
Nice post…I agree with your wish. I guess if I had to narrow down my wish for the holiday season, it would be peace, too. As I sit here, though, I think about some of the ideas I had to help others out. I had hoped to give away a little money and food gift cards away to some of the homeless people I pass downtown, but I got really busy. But I am reminded that this kind of generosity doesn’t have to be unique to the holidays and that people are in need all the time.
Happy Holidays from Chicago (USA)!
Tim´s last blog ..Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Hi, Tim! I love those ideas of giving and helping, especially if they aren’t reserved for the holidays. Maybe the fact that you got too busy is a good thing, ’cause now you’ll perform these deeds outside of the bounds of that arbitrary calendar. There is always someone who could use a little help. Thank you for being willing to provide it.
Take Care!!